IshikawaNovember 4 (News about Japan) – In Toyama Bay, known as a ‘natural fish sanctuary’, a small shrimp called the ‘yokoebi’ has seen an explosive surge since the Noto Peninsula earthquake, causing significant damage to the brand’s fish species.
Setnet fisherman Katsuhisa Tokai noted, “These shrimp have been piling up in the nets lately and sticking to them in large numbers.”
The yokoebi, which grow to about an inch in size, feed on fish carcasses and other waste. Since the beginning of this year, these shrimp have spread in Toyama Bay, adding to the hardships of local fishermen already affected by the earthquake.
“The nets are full of these yokoebi,” one fisherman noted. “The fish caught in the nets are devoured faster than normal.”
Since the earthquake, Toyama Bay has experienced continued environmental disruptions. From January to May this year, the winter harvest of beni-zuwai crab at the Shinminato fishing cooperative fell to about 30% of last year’s levels.
“The crabs are probably buried under the rubble,” complained one crab fisherman.
The impact is not limited to scratching. Shiroebi shrimp catches, which were typically at their peak in spring, also fell to about 20% of usual levels.
“Compared to normal years, we barely catch anything,” noted a shiroebi fisherman.
Experts suggest that an underwater landslide caused by the earthquake could affect fish living near the seabed in Toyama Bay.
An official from the Toyama Prefectural Fisheries Research Institute explained: “Fish living in deeper areas may be affected by underwater landslides or changes in the seabed environment, potentially affecting their habitats.”
One of Toyama’s most celebrated branded fish, the “Manyo karei”, which reaches peak season from summer to autumn, is also facing a historic decline in catch.
“We should be catching these in large numbers this season, but it’s about a tenth of the usual,” Tokai noted.
“Manyo karei” refers to marbled sole that weighs more than 400 grams and meets strict quality standards, including storage in controlled tanks to remove mud. In recent years, a single fish has fetched more than 100,000 yen.
However, this prized brand fish is hardly appearing in the nets this season, with the catch in July being only a quarter of last year’s. Fishing was suspended in August and did not resume until mid-September, but not a single sole was caught. Instead, the nets were filled with other fish, such as madai, that showed visible damage.
Tokai pointed to the damaged fin of a madai and noted, “This fin was eaten by yokoebi.”
Damage from the yokoebi infestation has escalated, prompting fishermen to prematurely end sole fishing this season.
“For the first time, we don’t catch anything from the start,” Tokai said. “If this trend of poor harvests continues in the coming years, the brand itself could disappear.”
With a series of changes in Toyama Bay after the earthquake, fishermen continue to face difficult times.
Source: TBS
