Sardine Fisheries, Trade, and Market of Japan Technical memo

摘要

Japan, once the world's largest producer and still the major user of sardines, relies mainly on landings by her own fleet. Recently, however, dwindling domestic catches have forced Japan to increase imports of sardines. Frozen Pacific sardine, Sardinops sagax, from the U.S. West Coast has found a market niche in Japan. In 2000, Japan imported $8.3 million of frozen sardines from the United States. Presently, the United States is the principal supplier of frozen sardines to Japan, accounting for 48 percent by volume and 47 percent by value of the total Japanese imports in 2000. The resource of Pacific sardine is abundant and appears to be increasing in the United States, mostly in California. Landings of Pacific sardine in the United States increased sharply in the mid-l990s, and should continue to grow, as long as domestic and foreign markets are available. Japan appears to be the most likely area for expansion of the market for U.S. producers. This report provides a sardine fishery, as well as utilization, and market, in opportunities for export by detailed examination of the Japanese its imports, exports, supply, order to identify potential U.S. producers.