As the Togiak fishery begins, the value of the herring is keeping fisherman at the docks. It seems that this might be a increasing trend in the future as cultural changes continue to unfold in Japan.
Japan is essentially the only market for herring roe, the fish eggs are salted and dried into a traditional New Year’s holiday product called kozunoko and sold in gift packs. Demographic and cultural changes in addition to the economic effects of the global recession have softened demand for the luxury item.
Younger Japanese are eating less seafood overall and are not as interested in traditions such as eating kozunoko.
via The Alaska Journal of Commerce – Supply and demand imbalance has herring market in flux 05/07/10.
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