NOM Technical Memorandum NMFS 

NOVEMBER 2001 

SARDINE FISHERIES, TRADE, AND MARKET OF JAPAN 

Sunee C. Sonu 

NOM-TM-NMFS-SWR-038 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Southwest Region 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), organized in 1970, 

has evolved into an agency which establishes national policies and manages and 

conserves our oceanic, coastal, and atmospheric resources. An organizational 

element within NOAA, the Office of Fisheries is responsible for fisheries policy and 

the direction of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 

In addition to its formal publications, the NMFS uses the NOAA Technical 

Memorandum series to issue informal scientific and technical publications when 

complete formal review and editorial processing are not appropriate or feasible. 

Documents within this series, however, reflect sound professional work and may be 

referenced in the formal scientific and technical literature. 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS 

This TM series us used for documentation and timely communication of preliminary results, interim reports, or special 

purpose information. The TMs have not received complete formal review, editorial control, or detailed editing. 

NOVEMBER 2001 

SARDINE FISHERIES, TRADE, AND MARKET OF JAPAN 

Sunee C. Sonu 

Southwest Region 

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA 

Long Beach, California 90802 

NOM-TM-N M FS-SWR-038 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Donald L. Evans, Secretary 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Scott 9. Gudes, Acting Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries 

I_ ..- 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

LIST OF TABLES ....................... ii 

LIST OF FIGURES ....................... iv 

LIST OF APPENDICES ..................... iv 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................... V 

INTRODUCTION ........................ 1 

WORLD FISHERIES ....................... 1 

U.S. FISHERY ........................ 6 

JAPANESE FISHERY ...................... 10 

Species ........................ 10 

Distribution ...................... 10 

CatchTrends ..................... 11 

Total Allowabie Catch ................. 12 

Imports ........................... 16 

Trade Barriers ..................... 17 

EXPORTS ........................... 26 

COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS ..................... 28 

SUPPLY ........................... 29 

UTILIZATION ......................... 30 

WHOLESALE MARKET ...................... 32 

Wholesale Prices at the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market . 32 

Wholesale Prices at the 10 Major Markets ........ 37 

Direct Sales to Supermarket Chains ........... 37 

REFERENCES ......................... 39 

APPENDICES ......................... 43 

i 
LIST OF TABLES 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

Page 

World Catches of Sardines, 1981-1999 .......... 3 

World Sardine Landings by FA0 Fishing Areas, 

1991-1999 ....................... 4 

World Catches of Sardines by Major Countries, 

1981-1999 ....................... 5 

United States Landings of Pacific Sardine, 

1915-2000 ....................... 7 

World Landings of Japanese Sardine by Country, 

1910-1999 ....................... 8 

Japanese Landings of Major Coastal Pelagic Species, 

1912-2000 ....................... 13 

Japanese Landings of Japanese Sardine by Type of Fishery, 

1995-1999 ....................... 15 

Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Actual Landings 

of Japanese Sardine, 1997-2001 ............. 15 

Japanese Imports of Sardines by Volume and Product Form, 

1989-2000 ....................... 18 

Japanese Imports of Sardines by Value and Product Form, 

1989-2000 ....................... 18 

Japanese Imports of Frozen Sardines (Sardinops spp. ) by 

Country of Origin and Volume, 1989-2000 ........ 19 

Japanese Imports of Frozen Sardines (Sardinops spp. ) by 

Country of Origin and Value, 1989-2000 ......... 20 

Japanese Imports of Frozen Other Sardines (Excluding 

Sardinops spp.) by Country of Origin and Volume, 

1989-2000 ....................... 21 

Japanese Imports of Frozen Other Sardines (Excluding 

Sardinops spp.) by Country of Origin and Value, 

1989-2000 ....................... 22 

Japanese Imports of Sardines, in Airtight Containers by 

Country of Origin and Volume, 1989-2000 ........ 23 

Japanese Imports of Sardines, in Airtight Containers by 

Country of Origin and Value, 1989-2000 ......... 24 

ii 
17. 

18. 

19. 

20. 

21. 

22. 

23. 

24. 

25. 

26. 

27. 

28. 

29. 

LIST OF TABLES 

Page 

Japanese Imports of Prepared or Preserved Sardines by 

Japanese Imports of Prepared or Preserved Sardines by 

Country of Origin and Value, 1989-2000 ......... 25 

Country of Origin and Volume, 1989-2000 ........ 25 

Japanese Exports of Sardine by Product Form and Volume, 

1996-2000 ....................... 27 

Japanese Exports of Sardine by Product Form and Value, 

19 9 6-2 000 ....................... 27 

Monthly and Annual Cold Storage Holdings of Frozen 

Sardines, 1995-2001 .................. 28 

Japanese Annual Supply of Sardines, 1988-2000 ..... 29 

Utilization of Japanese Sardine at 33 Major Landing 

Ports in Japan by Volume, 1995-2000 .......... 31 

Utilization of Japanese Sardine at 33 Major Landing 

Ports in Japan by Share, 1995-2000 ........... 31 

Monthly and Annual Supply of Fresh Sardines at Tokyo 

Central Wholesale Market, 1991-2000 .......... 33 

Annual and Monthly Average Wholesale Prices of Fresh 

Sardines at Tokyo Central Wholesale Market, 1991-2000 . 34 

Monthly and Annual Supply of Frozen Sardines at Tokyo 

Central Wholesale Market, 1991-2000 .......... 35 

Annual and Monthly Average Wholesale Prices of Frozen 

Sardines at Tokyo Central Wholesale Market, 

1991-2000 ....................... 36 

Annual Supply and Average Wholesale Prices of Fresh 

Sardines at 10 Major Central Wholesale Markets, 

1991-2000 ....................... 38 

iii 
LIST OF FIGURES 

Page 

1. United States Landings of Pacific Sardine, 

1915-2000. ...................... 6 

2. J’apanese Landings of Japanese sardine, 

1910-2000 ...................... 12 

LIST OF APPENDICES 

1. Japanese Importers with Import Quotas for Sardine 

Products.. ..................... 43 

2. Monthly and Annual Average Exchange Rate Applied to 

Japanese Imports, 1976-2000 ............. 51 

iv- 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Japan was once the world's largest producer of sardine. 

Recently, however, Japanese catches of sardine have declined 

significantly, and Japan has become increasingly more dependent 

on imports. 

Japan is a major market for sardine, utilizing an average of 

302,000 metric tons (mt) per year during 1996-2000. Supply for 

this market comes from both domestic catches as well as imports. 

The share of the Japanese sardine market supplied by imports 

increased from 1 percent in 1996 to 11 percent in 2000. 

The Japanese commercial fishery for sardine dates back to 

1487. The catch increased rapidly from 17,000 mt in 1970 to 2.2 

million mt in 1980 and reached a record of 4.5 million mt in 

1988. Since 1989, however, sardine catches have steadily 

declined, and the catch in 2000 of 158,000 mt was less than 4 

percent of the record landings, and was the lowest catch in 28 

years. 

Japan is a major importer of sardines. In 2000, Japanese 

imports of sardines were worth over $22 million. Whole frozen 

fish was the dominant product form imported into Japan, 

representing 95 percent in volume and 79 percent in value in 

2000. The United States has become the primary supplier of 

frozen sardine to Japan since 1996. Japanese imports of frozen 

sardine from the United States in 2000 were 11,434 mt valued at 

$8.3 million, an increase of 2.4-fold in volume and 3-fold in 

value over 1999. In 2000, the United States for the first time 

supplied 24 mt of fresh sardine to Japan. 

Prices of sardines are primarily determined by supply and 

demand, but quality, size, origin, and species are also 

important. During 1991-2000, the highest monthly average 

wholesale price at Tokyo Central Wholesale Market occurred in 

November 2000 for fresh sardine and in February 1999 for frozen 

sardine, which corresponded to periods of low supply of these 

products. 

Sardine products imported into Japan are subject to import 

quota (IQ) and tariffs. To meet strong demand for sardines, the 

Japanese government increased the IQ for sardines from 20,000 mt 

for 1998 to 22,000 mt for 1999, and then to 50,000 mt for 2000. 

The tariff for fresh and frozen sardine of the genus Sardinops is 

higher (10 percent) than that for other genera (3.5 percent). 

Since the United States is the major suppler of fresh and frozen 

Sardinops spp. to Japan, a reduction of the tariff on this genus 

would be beneficial to U.S. exporters. 

V 
INTRODUCTION 

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. 

WORLD FISHERIES 

Sardines are important coastal pelagic fish inhabiting 

temperate waters throughout the world (Hiramoto 1987) and are the 

objects of commercial fisheries wherever they are found in 

abundance. 

Total world landings of sardines (Japanese sardine, 

Sardinops melanostictus; Pacific sardine, S. sagax; Southern 

African sardine, S. ocellatus; South American sardine, S. sagax; 

and European sardine, Sardina pilchardus), increased from 8 

million mt in 1981 to a peak of nearly 13 million mt in 1988 

(Table 1). Landings have been on a downward trend thereafter, 

falling to less than 2.5 million mt in 1999. 

Recent decreases in global landings of sardines were due 

mainly to sharply declined catches of Japanese and South American 

sardines. Combined landings of these two species declined from 

11 million mt in 1988 to less than one million mt in 1999. 

Landings of Pacific sardine and Southern African sardine have 

remained fairly stable during recent years, while landings of 

European sardine have declined slightly. 

1 
Since 1997, European sardine has provided the greatest 

annual landings of sardines. In 1999, this species accounted for 

37 percent of total landings compared to 21 percent for Japanese 

sardine, 18 percent for South American sardine, 16 percent for 

Pacific sardine, and 7 percent for Southern African sardine. 

The near collapse of the Japanese and South American sardine 

resources is shown by the decline in catches of sardines in the 

northwest and southeast Pacific Ocean, respectively (Table 2). 

From 1991 to 1999, catches dropped from 3.8 million mt to 0.5 

million mt in the northwest Pacific Ocean and from 4.2 million mt 

to 0.4 million mt in the southeast Pacific Ocean. Landings in 

the eastern central Atlantic Ocean also decreased from 1.1 

million mt to 0.5 million mt, due mainly to a sharp drop in 

catches by the Russian Federation, from 310,000 mt in 1991 to 

5,000 mt in 1999 (FA0 2001). Catches from other fishing areas 

were fairly stable during the same period. 

Of 36 nations that reported sardine landings in 1999, 

Morocco ranked highest with 18 percent of the total (Table 3). 

Japan was second with 15 percent, while Chile, the world's second 

or third largest producer during the 1980's, was in fourth place, 

trailing Mexico. Harvest of sardine by Chile went from 1.6 

million mt in 1981 to a record high of 2.9 million mt in 1985, 

then declined to 28,000 mt in 1998. This was followed by an 

increase to 246,000 mt in 1999. Peru, the world's largest 

producer of sardine in the 199O's, was in fifth place in 1999. 

Peru's share of the world catch has decreased sharply from 33 

percent in 1998 to 8 percent in 1999. Landings by Mexico, Spain, 

and South Africa have remained fairly stable in recent years. 

Harvests by the United States increased from virtually nil in the 

mid-1970's to the mid-l980's, to nearly 68,000 mt in 2000 

(Table 4). 

Total catch of Japanese sardine by all nations reached a high 

of 5.4 million mt in 1988, with Japan landing 83 percent of the 

fish (Table 5)- Substantial catches were reported by the 

Republic of Korea from 1927-1941 and by the U.S.S.R. in 

1978-1991. Japan's share of the total catch of Japanese sardine 

was about 68 percent in 1999. 

2 
Table 1. World Catches of Sardines, 1981-1999 

(1,000 metric tons). 

Japanese Pacific South Southern European 

Year sardine sardine American African sardine Total 

sardine sardine 

1981 

1982 

1983 

1984 

1985 

3,613 

3,966 

4,465 

5,156 

4,723 

344 

433 

381 

278 

372 

2,973 

3,476 

4,066 

5,735 

6,509 

101 

89 

112 

89 

90 

1,000 

8 64 

961 

91 4 

92 6 

8,031 

8,828 

9,985 

12,172 

12,620 

1986 

1987 

1988 

1989 

1990 

5,191 

5,321 

5,429 

5,143 

4,732 

4,961 

4,950 

5,383 

4,441 

4,254 

471 

477 

446 

509 

314 

88 

107 

105 

114 

14 9 

98 1 

1,184 

1,366 

1,539 

1,525 

11,692 

12,039 

12,729 

11,746 

10,974 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

3,774 

2,489 

1,796 

1,314 

733 

32 5 

279 

273 

301 

364 

4,190 

3,057 

1,967 

1,746 

1,503 

121 

134 

167 

210 

158 

1,465 

1,164 

1,082 

1,144 

1,209 

9,875 

7,123 

5,285 

4,715 

3, 967 

431 

4 18 

296 

515 

373 

368 

366 

375 

1,494 

723 

937 

442 

106 

145 

197 

17 6 

996 

999 

941 

901 

3,400 

2,653 

2,737 

2,409 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

~ ~~ 

Sources: FA0 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001 

3 
Table 2. World Sardine Landings by FA0 Fishing keas, 1991-1999 

(1,000 metric tons) . 

FA0 fishing areas 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 

Pacific ocean: 

Southeast 4,190 3,057 1,967 1,746 1,503 1,494 723 937 443 

Eastern central 325 279 273 301 363 373 368 366 374 

Northwest 3,774 2,489 1,796 1,314 733 431 418 296 515 

Northeast -* - - - - O* * - 0 1 

Atlantic ocean: 

Eastern central 1,073 724 612 683 779 615 64 8 580 533 

Southeast 12 1 134 167 210 158 106 145 197 17 6 

Northeast 150 183 212 190 182 157 139 154 156 

Mediterranean 

and Black Sea 242 257 258 271 248 225 210 206 212 

Total 9,875 7,123 5,285 4,715 3,967 3,400 2,653 2,737 2,409 

-* magnitude known to be nil or zero 

0** more than zero but less than 500 metric tons 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: FA0 2000, 2001 

4 
Table 3. World Catches of Sardines by Major Countries, 1981-1999 

(1,000 metric tons) . 

Year Japan Mexico Peru Chile Spain Morocco South U.S.A. Total 

Africa 

1981 

1982 

1983 

1984 

1985 

3,089 344 1,183 

3,290 433 1,510 

3,745 381 1,172 

4,179 278 2,789 

3,866 372 2,904 

1,628 223 234 

1,780 217 169 

2,823 235 229 

2,572 258 164 

2,887 228 218 

100 

87 

107 

86 

87 

O* 8,031 

0 8,828 

0 9,985 

0 12,172 

1 12,620 

1986 

1987 

1988 

1989 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

4,210 471 1,721 

4,362 477 2,469 

4,488 446 3,470 

4,099 509 2,569 

3,678 314 3,265 

3,010 325 3,398 

2,224 279 2,243 

1,714 273 1,452 

1,189 288 1,552 

661 321 1,266 

319 340 1,056 

284 32 6 62 5 

167 323 908 

351 314 188 

2,585 216 277 

2,203 228 275 

1,526 271 584 

1,590 254 330 

900 214 34 6 

734 195 37 1 

809 186 322 

481 220 382 

194 231 4 92 

162 225 57 1 

81 222 393 

40 231 4 97 

28 157 436 

246 128 430 

88 

107 

104 

112 

57 

52 

53 

51 

93 

115 

105 

117 

128 

131 

1 11,692 

2 12,039 

4 12,729 

4 11,746 

3 10,974 

8 9,875 

18 7,123 

14 5,285 

13 4,715 

43 3, 967 

33 3,400 

46 2,653 

41 2,737 

60 2,409 

O* more than zero but less than 500 metric tons 

Total also includes other countries 

Sources: FA0 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001 

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries 2001 

Suisan Tsushin Sha April 25, 2001 

California Department of Fish and Game 2000 

5 
U.S. FISHERY 

700,000 . 

-_~ 600,000 . ___ 

t- _- -~ __- v) 500,000 C 

0 

CI 

o 40n,'30. ~~ 

.- 

+- I2 300,000. ~___-~ 

. ~- ~. ~ ~- 200,000 - ________ 

100,000 

Pacific sardine is found in Mexico in the Gulf of California 

and along the western coast of Baja California, and in the United 

States from California to southeastern Alaska (Gates 1960). 

Pacific sardine supported the largest fishery in the western 

hemisphere during the 1930's and early 1940's, when it 

represented nearly 25 percent of all fish caught in the United 

States. Over 500,000 mt of sardine were netted in U.S. waters in 

eight different years (Figure 1 and Table 4). 

Beginning in the mid-1940's sardine landings declined 

dramatically, with some short term recoveries, and the fishery 

finally collapsed in the early 1960's. 

In 1967, the California legislature placed a moratorium on 

the directed fishery for sardine in California (Pacific Fishery 

Management Council 1998). The moratorium was lifted in 1986 as 

the population increased, and a directed fishery quota of 908 mt 

was established for the years 1986-1990. Total estimated sardine 

stock biomass of fish over one year old (age 1+) increased 

dramatically from 5,056 mt in 1983 to 1,182,465 mt in 2000 

(Conser et al. 2000). Consequently the annual quota has been 

increased in recent years, 

in 2001. 

2000 were 67,890 mt, the highest since 1959. The majority of the 

sardine landings occurred in southern California. Currently, the 

U.S. fishery is regulated under a quota system. 

from 43,545 mt in 1998 to 134,737 mt 

The fishery continued to expand, and the landings for 

800,000 # 

Figure X. United States Landings of Pacific Sardine, 1915-2000 

(metric tons). 

6 
Table 4. United States Landings of Pacific Sardine, 1915-2000 

(metric tons). 

Year Metric tons Year - Metric tons 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

1925 

1926 

1927 

1928 

1929 

1930 

1931 

1932 

1933 

1934 

1935 

1936 

1937 

1938 

1939 

1940 

1941 

1942 

1943 

1944 

1945 

1946 

1947 

1948 

1949 

1950 

1951 

1952 

1953 

1954 

1955 

1956 

1957 

1958 

1959 

1960 

1,991 

7,098 

47,221 

72,872 

69,798 

53,761 

26,913 

41,783 

72,211 

110,082 

143,017 

130,065 

155,255 

190,633 

295,642 

224 , 282 

136,172 

141,600 

231,243 

515,268 

529,898 

681,438 

516,876 

503,675 

562,903 

414,562 

602,548 

442,112 

452,236 

520,410 

385,544 

240,857 

123,485 

162,264 

287,372 

324 , 105 

149,186 

6,500 

4 , 295 

61,918 

66,047 

31,550 

20,803 

94,097 

33,733 

26,097 

Sources: Lyles 1965 

1961 

1962 

1963 

1964 

1965 

1966 

1967 

1968 

1969 

1970 

1971 

1972 

1973 

1974 

1975 

1976 

1977 

1978 

1979 

1980 

1981 

1982 

1983 

1984 

1985 

1986 

1987 

1988 

1989 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

19,581 

6,969 

3,235 

5,959 

873 

398 

68 

56 

48 

201 

135 

169 

69 

6 

2 

7 

2 

1 

9 

21 

15 

2 

1 

1 

6 

389 

439 

1,188 

837 

1,664 

7,587 

17,954 

15,347 

11,644 

40,256 

32,553 

42,884 

43,312 

60,129 

67,890 

U.S. Department of Commerce 2001 

Pacific Fishery Management Council 2001 

7 
Table 5. World Landings of Japanese Sardine by Country, 

1910-1999 (1,000 metric tons). 

Year Japan Korea, U . S . S . R/ China, Korea, World total 

Rep. Russian, Fed main D.P.Rp 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

I918 

1919 

1920 

132 

128 

14 6 

172 

210 

231 

235 

37 0 

252 

264 

345 

* ... 

... ... ... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

132 

128 

14 6 

196 

249 

302 

235 

437 

252 

338 

34 5 

... 

24 

39 

71 

... 

67 

74 

... 

... 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

1925 

1926 

1927 

1928 

1929 

1930 

294 

314 

406 

423 

488 

429 

517 

573 

675 

690 

72 

67 

74 

71 

99 

14 6 

271 

307 

390 

332 

... 

... ... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

366 

381 

480 

4 94 

587 

575 

788 

880 

1,065 

1,082 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

60 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

1931 

1932 

1933 

1934 

1935 

1936 

1937 

1938 

1939 

1940 

954 

1,097 

1,481 

1,385 

1,807 

1,586 

1,145 

98 9 

999 

754 

398 

314 

272 

628 

835 

1,025 

1,423 

1,017 

1,238 

1,002 

90 

90 

90 

100 

120 

110 

140 

100 

110 

100 

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 

1,442 

1,501 

1,843 

2,113 

2,262 

2,721 

2,708 

2,106 

2,343 

1,856 

... ... ... ... ... ... 

1941 

1942 

1943 

1944 

1945 

1946 

1947 

1948 

1949 

1950 

1,089 

685 

4 61 

250 

155 

241 

240 

247 

32 9 

381 

6 67 

70 

20 

o** 

... ... 1,776 

... ... 775 

... ... 4 61 

... ... 250 

... ... 155 

... ... 241 

... ... 240 

... ... 247 

... ... 32 9 

... ... 381 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... ... 

... 

... ... 

8 
Table 5 (Continued) . World Landings of Japanese Sardine by 

Country. 1910-1999 (1. 000 metric tons) 

Year Japan Korea. U . S . S . R/ China. Korea. World total 

Rep . Russian. Fed main D.P.Rp 

1951 

1952 

1953 

1954 

1955 

1956 

1957 

1958 

1959 

1960 

1961 

1962 

1963 

1964 

1965 

1966 

1967 

1968 

1969 

1970 

1971 

1972 

1973 

1974 

1975 

1976 

1977 

1978 

1979 

1980 

1981 

1982 

1983 

1984 

1985 

1986 

1987 

1988 

1989 

1990 

368 

258 

344 

246 

211 

206 

2 12 

137 

120 

78 

127 

108 

56 

16 

9 

13 

17 

24 

21 

17 

57 

58 

2 97 

352 

526 

1. 066 

1. 420 

1. 637 

1. 817 

2. 198 

3. 089 

3. 290 

3. 745 

4. 179 

3. 866 

4. 210 

4. 362 

4. 488 

4. 099 

3. 678 

... 

... 

0 

0 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

... 

... 

0 

0 

4 

0 

4 

11 

50 

54 

47 

38 

63 

82 

140 

178 

108 

161 

194 

146 

183 

133 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... -* * * 

. 

. 

243 

369 

359 

4 61 

594 

580 

799 

748 

821 

7 65 

7 95 

861 

879 

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 

... ... 

... ... ... ... ... ... 

... ... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

42 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

... 

368 

258 

344 

246 

211 

206 

212 

137 

120 

78 

127 

108 

56 

16 

9 

13 

17 

24 

21 

17 

57 

58 

301 

352 

530 

1. 077 

1. 470 

1. 934 

2. 233 

2. 595 

3. 613 

3. 966 

4. 465 

5. 156 

4. 723 

5. 191 

5. 321 

5. 429 

5. 143 

4. 732 

9 
Table 5 (continued). World Landings of Japanese Sardine by 

Country, 1910-1999 (1,000 metric tons) 

Year Japan Korea, U.S.S.R/ China, Korea, World total 

Rep. Russian, Fed main D.P.Rp 

1991 3,010 

1992 2,224 

1993 1,714 

1994 1,189 

1995 661 

1996 319 

1997 284 

1998 167 

1999 351 

45 

47 

31 

37 

14 

19 

9 

8 

17 

656 

165 

4 

0 

- 

- 

0 

63 

53 

47 

68 

58 

93 

125 

121 

147 

... 

... 

... 

20 

0 

0 

0 

... 

... 

3,774 

2,489 

1,796 

1,314 

733 

431 

418 

296 

515 

...* data not available 

0** more than zero but less than 500 metric tons 

-*** magnitude known to be nil or zero 

Totals may not add due to rounding of data 

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries 1972, 

1990, 2000 

FA0 1973, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1992, 1999, 2001 

Chikuni, S., 1985 

JAPANESE FISHERY 

The Japanese commercial fishery for Japanese sardine dates 

back to 1487 (Itoh 1961). Originally, sardines were taken by 

beach seines, fish traps, and gillnets for human consumption 

(Itoh 1987). 

Species 

The Japanese sardine is a pelagic marine schooling fish 

inhabiting temperate waters of the Far East (Hiramoto 1987). 

The annual catch of this species was at times the greatest among 

all fish landed in the world (FA0 1950). It is closely allied to 

three other species of sardines of the same genus: Pacific 

sardine, South American sardine and Southern African sardine 

(Whitehead 1985). Genetic differences among the four sardine 

species are not significant (ibid). 

Distribution 

Population size of sardine affects its distribution range 

(Kondo 1980). During periods of high abundance, fishing grounds 

10 
for Japanese sardine are widely scattered throughout the Far 

East, including the Coast Range and South Sakhalin in Russia, the 

Japan Sea coast of the Korean Peninsula, and the seas surrounding 

Japan. When abundance is low, the range gradually withdraws 

first from the northern limits, and then away from the Coast 

Range and South Sakhalin in Russia, and then from northern Korea. 

The coastal waters around Japan constitute the main fishing 

grounds for Japanese sardine. 

Catch Trends 

The Japanese sardine exhibits a repeating long-term 

fluctuation in its stock abundance (Itoh 1961). The volume of 

sardine landings have gone through several long-term cycles of 

high and low levels since the 17th century. In the 20th century, 

a peak in catch occurred in the 1930's, followed by a rapid 

decline in the 1940's and a low level period in the 1950's and 

1960's (Fig. 2 and Table 6). In the mid-1970's the catch 

increased remarkably and a high level was maintained into the 

early 199O's, with a peak in 1988. The Japanese catch has 

declined to well below a million mt after 1994. 

There have been many studies on causes of the long term 

fluctuations in Japanese sardine populations. The fluctuations 

are thought to be related to several factors including predation 

(Itoh 1987), species replacement (Kishida et al. 1998; Fukushima 

et al. 1988; Matsuda et al. 1992), food density (Kishida et al. 

1998; Matsuda et al. 1991), and the physical and biological 

oceanographic environments (Kondo 1980; Wada et al. 1998; Noto et 

al. 1999; Yasuda et al. 1999). However, the proposed causes for 

fluctuations in the sardine population remain controversial due 

to scarcity of key biological data over a long period (Itoh 1987 

and Kawasaki 1995). 

Periodic appearance of a dominant species among coastal 

pelagic species appears to occur in Japanese waters. Peak 

catches were made in 1935 and 1988 for Japanese sardine, in 1958 

for Pacific saury (Cololabis saira), and in 1974 for chub 

mackerel (Scomber japonicus; Table 6). Landings of coastal 

pelagic species in 2000 were dominated by anchovy (Engraulis 

japonicus), followed by Japanese flying squid (Todarodes 

pacificus), chub mackerel, and Pacific saury. Harvest of sardine 

for 2000 was the smallest among five major coastal pelagic 

species. 

Catch by Fishery 

Among fishing methods used to catch sardines are purse 

seine, set net, beach and boat seine, gillnet, and lift net 

(Table 7). None of these methods is used exclusively for 

sardines, but historically beach seine, fish trap, and gillnet 

11 
were mainly used to catch sardine (Itoh 1987). In 1881, purse 

seine technology was introduced into Japan and purse seines were 

first used to catch sardine in 1889 

Research Center 1965). Between 1995 and 1999, about 90 percent 

of the sardine catch was made by purse seine, and the rest by set 

net, beach and boat seine, gillnet, and lift net. 

(Agriculture and Forestry 

Total Allowable Catch 

In January 1997, Japan began implementing total allowable 

catch (TAC) levels for several species including Japanese 

sardine, Pacific saury, Alaska pollock, jack mackerel, chub 

mackerel, Tanner crab, and Japanese flying squid (Ministry of 

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries 1999). The TAC is set by 

the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries together 

with prefectural governments (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, 

and Fisheries 1998). 

The TAC for sardine was initially set at 720,000 mt in 1997, 

but due to low catches and abundance, it was decreased to 380,000 

mt in 2001 (Table 8). Only about 42 percent of the 2000 TAC was 

landed. 

5,000 

4,500 

4,000 

3.500 

3.000 

2,500 

2,000 

1,500 

1,000 

500 

0 

1910 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 2000 

Year 

Figure 2. Japanese Landings of Japanese sardine, 1910-2000 

(1,000 metric ton) 

12 
Table 6. Japanese Landings of Major Coastal Pelagic Species, 

1912-2000 (1,000 metric tons) 

Year Sardine Anchovy Chub Pacific Japanese Marine fishes 

mackerel saury flying squid Total 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

146 

172 

210 

231 

235 

370 

252 

2 64 

345 

105 

97 

107 

95 

122 

88 

84 

122 

113 

34 

34 

37 

40 

47 

50 

59 

55 

50 

60 

35 

19 

25 

24 

18 

6 

8 

14 

1,622 

1,943 

1,947 

1,999 

2,171 

1,932 

1,806 

2,205 

2,433 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

1925 

1926 

1927 

1928 

1929 

1930 

294 

314 

406 

423 

488 

429 

517 

573 

67 5 

690 

90 

89 

100 

94 

92 

99 

91 

103 

92 

99 

53 

54 

67 

68 

76 

71 

90 

82 

71 

72 

22 

27 

22 

34 

64 

38 

41 

27 

22 

21 

2,128 

2,403 

2,435 

2,579 

2,794 

3,020 

3,191 

3,038 

3,067 

3,135 

1931 954 

1932 1,097 

1933 1,481 

1934 1,385 

1935 1,807 

1936 1,586 

1937 1,145 

1938 98 9 

1939 999 

1940 754 

81 

60 

44 

82 

71 

42 

63 

95 

92 

112 

82 

83 

110 

106 

114 

126 

132 

133 

154 

122 

15 

12 

17 

17 

17 

27 

23 

25 

20 

27 

3,308 

3,491 

3,996 

4,177 

3,863 

4,217 

3, 927 

3,580 

3,583 

3,421 

3,702 

3,480 

3,236 

2,375 

1,750 

2,075 

2,257 

2,477 

2,666 

3,255 

1941 

1942 

1943 

1944 

1945 

1946 

1947 

1948 

1949 

1950 

1,089 

685 

4 61 

250 

155 

241 

240 

247 

32 9 

381 

110 

176 

126 

121 

105 

118 

109 

128 

144 

182 

143 

105 

133 

72 

84 

64 

63 

99 

138 

188 

14 

16 

17 

3 

3 

10 

23 

66 

64 

126 

1951 

1952 

1953 

1954 

1955 

1956 

1957 

1958 

1959 

1960 

368 

258 

344 

246 

211 

206 

212 

137 

120 

78 

27 6 

286 

243 

304 

392 

347 

430 

4 17 

356 

34 9 

151 

287 

235 

2 97 

244 

266 

276 

2 68 

295 

351 

113 

226 

254 

2 93 

4 97 

328 

4 22 

575 

523 

287 

596 

596 

420 

399 

383 

299 

364 

354 

481 

481 

3,774 

4, 646 

4,387 

4,304 

4,658 

4,488 

5,067 

5,198 

5,568 

5,817 

13 
Table 6 (Continued). Japanese Landings of Major Coastal Pelagic 

Species, 1912-2000 (1,000 metric tons) 

Year Sardine Anchovy Chub Pacific Japanese Marine fishes 

mackerel Saury flying squid Total 

1961 127 367 338 474 384 6,287 

1962 108 34 9 409 483 536 6,397 

1963 56 32 1 4 65 385 590 6,200 

1964 16 2 96 4 96 211 238 5,868 

1965 9 406 669 231 3 97 6,382 

1966 13 408 62 4 242 383 6,558 

1967 17 365 687 220 477 7,241 

1969 21 377 1,011 63 478 7,976 

1950 17 365 1,302 93 412 8,598 

1968 24 358 1,015 140 668 7,993 

1971 

1972 

1973 

1974 

1975 

1976 

1977 

1978 

1979 

1980 

57 

58 

2 97 

352 

526 

1,066 

1,420 

1,637 

1,817 

2,198 

1981 3,089 

1982 3,290 

1983 3,745 

1984 4,179 

1985 3,866 

1986 4,210 

1987 4,362 

1988 4,488 

1990 3, 678 

1989 4,099 

1931 3,010 

1992 2,224 

1993 1,714 

1994 1,189 

1995 661 

1996 319 

1997 284 

1998 167 

1999 35 1 

351 

370 

335 

288 

245 

217 

246 

152 

135 

151 

160 

197 

208 

224 

206 

221 

141 

177 

182 

311 

329 

301 

195 

188 

252 

34 6 

233 

471 

484 

1,254 

1,190 

1,135 

1,331 

1,318 

977 

1,355 

1, 626 

1,414 

1,301 

908 

718 

805 

814 

773 

94 5 

701 

64 9 

527 

273 

255 

269 

665 

633 

470 

7 60 

84 9 

511 

382 

190 

197 

406 

135 

222 

105 

253 

360 

278 

187 

160 

207 

240 

210 

246 

217 

197 

2 92 

247 

308 

304 

266 

277 

2 62 

274 

229 

291 

145 

141 

364 

4 64 

34 8 

335 

385 

312 

264 

199 

213 

331 

197 

182 

192 

174 

133 

91 

183 

156 

212 

209 

242 

3 94 

316 

302 

2 90 

444 

366 

181 

237 

9,149 

9,400 

9,793 

9,749 

9,753 

9, 605 

9,688 

9, 683 

9,477 

9,909 

10,143 

10,697 

11,501 

10,877 

11,341 

11,129 

11,259 

10,440 

9,570 

10,231 

8,511 

7,771 

7,256 

6,590 

6,007 

5,974 

5,985 

5,315 

5,239 

2000 158 374 333 221 339 4,995 

--* data not available 

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries 1972, 

1990, 2001 

Chikuni, S., 1985 

Suisan Tsushin Sha April 25, 2001 

14 
Table 7. Japanese Landings of Japanese sardine by Type of 

Fishery, 1995-1999 (metric tons) 

Type of fishery 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 

Purse seine 602, 912 276,525 256,371 141,116 326,531 

Set net 41,633 30, 684 17,928 17,060 18,715 

Beach and boat seines 5,687 5,613 3,466 4,357 1,964 

Gillnet 221 1,152 3,448 2,701 854 

Lift net 9,934 4,841 2,224 1,347 2,325 

Others 1,004 539 617 492 818 

Total 661,391 319,354 284,054 167,073 351,207 

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries 2001 

Table 8. Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Actual Landings of 

Japanese Sardine, 1997-2001. 

Year TAC Landings Percent of 

(1,000 metric tons) TAC 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

720 

520 

400 

380 

380 

284 

167 

351 

158 

39 

32 

88 

42 

Sources: Suisan Tsushin Sha 2000, 2001 

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2000, 

2001 

Minato Shinbun Sha 2000 

15 
IMPORTS 

Because of high demand and poor domestic catches of sardine, 

Japan increased imports from 273 mt valued at $1.3 million in 

1989 to 25,206 mt valued at over $22 million in 2000 (Tables 9 

and 10). The number of countries supplying sardines to Japan 

also increased, from 12 in 1989 to 23 in 2000 (Japan Marine 

Products Importers Association 1990 and 2001). 

Whole frozen fish was the dominant product form of sardine 

imported into Japan in recent years, representing as much as 95 

percent in volume and 79 percent in value in 2000. Prepared and 

preserved products accounted for 4 percent in volume and 12 

percent in value, followed by products in airtight containers 

with less than 1 percent in volume and 9 percent in value. 

Imports of fresh sardine were minor, with less than 1 percent 

both in volume and value in 2000. 

While Japan did not import frozen sardine until 1989, a 

sharp increase in imports of frozen sardine into Japan has been 

particularly pronounced since 1995. In 1989 only two nations 

supplied frozen sardines to Japan, but the number increased to 15 

in 2000 (Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990 and 

2001). 

Japan began importing frozen sardine from the United States 

in 1995 (Tables 11-14). Imports have since steadily increased 

and the trend has been accentuated in recent years. From 1995 to 

2000, imports of frozen sardine from the United States into Japan 

increased about 16 times in volume and 20 times in value. The 

United States has been the major supplier of frozen sardine to 

Japan since 1996, providing Japan with 48 percent in volume and 

47 percent in value of frozen sardine in 2000. Significant 

quantities have also been imported from Mexico, the Netherlands, 

Canada, Ireland, and South Africa. In 2000, South Africa for the 

first time emerged as a significant supplier of frozen sardines 

to Japan. 

Imports of sardine products in airtight containers more than 

doubled from 1989 to 2000 ( Tables 15 and 16). Norway has 

consistently been the leading supplier of sardine products in 

airtight containers to Japan, providing 46 percent in volume and 

72 percent in value of the 2000 total. The United Kingdom was a 

distant second with exports comprising 13 percent in volume and 

10 percent in value of the total. 

Japanese imports of prepared and preserved sardine products 

increased over nine times in volume and six times in value from 

1989 to 2000 (Tables 17 and 18). The products came mostly from 

China, with lesser quantities imported from Thailand, Indonesia, 

and Taiwan. 

16 
Japan imported 49 mt of fresh sardines in 2000, 24 mt from 

the United States and 25 mt from Canada. Previously, in 1994, 

Japan imported 23 mt of fresh sardine from Sweden (Tables 9 and 

10; Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990-2001). 

Trade barriers 

Japan regulates imports of sardine products with import 

quotas (IQ) and tariffs. Import quotas are set once a year, with 

new quotas announced each year on September 1 (U.S. Embassy 

2001). To meet strong demand, the Japanese government increased 

the IQ for sardines from 20,000 mt for 1998 to 22,000 mt for 

1999, and then to 50,000 mt for 2000 (Susan Keizai Sha July 29, 

1998 and U.S. Embassy 2001). 

Imports of nine product forms of sardine are subject to 

tariffs. These are: live; fresh; frozen; dried; fresh fillet; 

frozen fillet; dried fillet; prepared or preserved; and products 

in airtight containers. As the United States and Japan are 

signatories to the World Trade Organization (WTO), WTO tariffs 

apply to U.S. exports of sardine products: 10 percent for live, 

fresh, or frozen round, and fresh or frozen fillets; 15 percent 

for dried fillets or dried round; and 9.6 percent for prepared or 

preserved, including those in airtight containers (Japan Marine 

Products Importers Association 2001). 

The tariff for fresh and frozen sardine of the genus 

Sardinops is higher (10 percent) than that for other genera (3.5 

percent). 

under General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) multilateral 

trade negotiation rounds, from 10 percent in 1993 to 3.5 percent 

in 2000 (Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1994 and 

2001). 

The tariff on other genera was progressively reduced 

Tariff rates are calculated as percentage of cost, 

insurance, and freight (CIF) value. Japanese importers with IQs 

for sardine products are listed in Appendix 1. 

17 
Table 9. Japanese Imports of Sardines by Volume and Product 

Form, 1989-2000 (metric tons). 

______-__---- Frozen------------- Fresh In air-tight Prepared/ Grand 

Year Sardinops spp. Others SLb-total containers preserved total 

1989 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

24 30 54 

141 150 291 

129 44 173 

24 - 24 

48 114 162 

CY* 144 144 

6,955 1,030 7,985 

4,854 117 4,171 

4,292 527 4,819 

3,757 731 4,488 

6,520 2,076 8,596 

21,096 2,868 23,964 

123 

114 

120 

207 

180 

218 

196 

157 

220 

231 

255 

276 

96 273 

412 817 

335 628 

156 387 

267 609 

271 656 

173 8,354 

202 4,530 

98 5,137 

142 4,861 

467 9,318 

917 25,206 

-* no imports 

0** more than zero but less than 500 metric tons 

Sources: Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990-2001 

Table 10. Japanese Imports of Sardines by Value and Product 

Form, 1989-2000 (U.S. $1,000). 

________--_ Frozen------------- Fresh In air-tight Prepared/ Grand 

Year Sardinops spp. Others Sub-total containers preserved total 

1989 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2 0 

117 

122 

23 

47 

3 

3,594 

2,722 

3,028 

2,272 

4,187 

15,157 

50 

247 

90 

99 

126 

636 

101 

527 

656 

1,595 

2,333 

- 

70 

364 

212 

23 

146 

129 

4,230 

2,823 

3,555 

2,938 

5,782 

17,490 53 

866 

829 

920 

1,592 

1,188 

1,635 

1,528 

1,118 

1,599 

1,711 

2,074 

2,010 

395 

3,019 

2,508 

2,354 

2,004 

1,519 

1,658 

847 

587 

2,584 

1,226 

1,373 

1,331 

4,212 

3,640 

2,841 

3,688 

3,789 

7,277 

5,599 

6,001 

5,236 

9,229 

22,137 

-* no imports 

Sources: Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990-2001 

18 
Table 11. Japanese Imports of Frozen Sardines (Sardinops spp.) 

by Country of Origin and Volume, 1989-2000 

(metric tons). 

Country of 

origin 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 

Taiwan 

Chile 

Thai land 

Total 24 141 12 9 24 48 0 

Country of 

origin 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

U.S.A. 728 1,607 2,279 2,424 4,751 11,175 

Mexico 206 842 955 950 1,325 8 , 122 

Canada - - - 60 230 730 

S. Africa - 23 4 69 

China - - 25 92 105 193 

Chile - - 106 

Peru - - 745 103 - 96 

Korea, Rep. of - - 50 83 18 78 

Indone s ia - - - - 21 '1 6 

Namibia - - 39 

Thai land - - - - - 10 

Netherlands - 75 a3 45 49 

Morocco 6,021 1,530 23 

Mauritania - - 132 

- - - 

- - - 

- - - 

- 

- - - 

- - - 

Total 6,955 4,054 4,292 3,757 6,520 21,096 

-* no imports 

0** more than zero but less than 500 metric tons 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Sources: Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990-2001 

19 
Table 12. Japanese Imports of Frozen Sardines (Sardinops spp, ) 

by Country of Origin and Value, 1989-2000 

(U.S. $1,000). 

Country of ‘x -i ;in 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 

Taiwan 

Chile 

Thailand 

-* 

20 

- 

- 

118 

4 

3 

- 

Total 20 117 122 23 47 3 

Country of 

oriuin 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

U.S.A. 414 

Mexico 152 

Canada - 

S. Africa - 

China - 

I ndone s ia - 

Chile - 

Peru 

Korea, Rep. of - Namibia - 

Thailand - 

-:=rocco 3,028 Mauritania - 

- 

- 3 ther 1 anus 

1,152 

724 - 

- 

- 

42 

803 

1,483 

775 - 

- 

15 

- 

566 

32 

- 

- 

57 

17 

84 

1,204 

715 

58 

- 

84 

78 

100 

2,787 7,946 

8 98 5,115 

286 92 1 

22 37 1 

103 357 

45 149 

98 

81 

9 60 

41 

16 

- 

- 

- 

- 

38 - 

Total 3,594 2,722 3,028 2,272 4,187 15,157 

-* no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Sources: Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990-2001 

20 
Table 13. Japanese Imports of Frozen Other Sardines (excluding 

Sardinops spp. ) by Country of Origin and Volume, 

1989-2000 (metric tons). 

Country of 

origin 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 

Thailand 30 150 37 - 10 

Ma 1. a ys i a - - 2 2 

Norway - - 25 

United Kingdom - 24 62 

Netherlands - 46 

Ireland - 88 

- 

U.S.A. -* - 7 - - - 

- - 

- - - 

- - - 

- - - - 

- - - - 

Total 30 150 44 - 114 144 

origin 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Thailand 

Norway 

Mexico 

China 

Ireland 

U.S.A. 

Korea, Rep. of 

Netherlands 

France 

Poland 

Taiwan 

15 

943 

72 

- 

- 

73 

4 

22 

18 

- 

- 

254 

30 

153 

65 

8 

227 

13 

127 

- 

28 

49 

105 - 

- 

1,894 - 

- 

122 

518 

259 

1,563 

286 

0** 

- 

- 

- 120 

731 2,076 2,868 

S. Africa - - - - 

Total 1,030 117 527 

-* no imports 

0** more than zero but less than 500 metric tons 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Sources: Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990-2001 

21 
Table 14. Japanese Imports of Frozen Other Sardine (excluding 

Sardinops spp.) by Country of Origin and Value, 

1989-2000 (U.S. $1,000). 

Country of 

or i q in 1989 199c 1991 1992 1993 1994 

Thai land 50 247 69 9 

U.S.A. 21 

3 2 

22 

24 54 

38 

71 

- - 

-* - - - - 

Malaysia - - - - 

Norway - 

United Kingdom - 

Netherlands - 

Ireland - 

- - - - 

- - - 

- - - - 

- - - - 

Total 50 247 90 99 12 6 - 

Country of 

origin 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Thailand - - - - - 34 

Norway 543 - - - 20 - 

Mexico 60 68 212 188 - - 

China - 5 21 7 29 55 

Ireland - 20 223 119 94 445 

U.S.A. - 8 46 310 

Korea, Rep. of - - 7 

Netherlands - - 18 349 1,452 1,198 France - 226 

Poland - 

Taiwan - 5 

S. Africa - 94 

Total 636 101 527 666 1,595 2,333 

- - 

- - - 

- - - - 

- - 3 - - 

- - - - 

- - - - 

-* no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Sources: Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990-2001 

22 
Table 15. Japanese Imports of Sardines, in Airtight Containers 

by Country of Origin and Volume, 1989-2000 

(metric tons). 

Country of 

oriqin 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 

China 

Thai land 

Malays i a 

Norway 

Denmark 

United Kingdom 

France 

Portugal 

Spain 

U.S.A. 

Italy 

Brazil 

Morocco 

Canada 

3 

18 

88 

1 

0 

9 

- 

- 

- 

45 

136 

1 

- 

- 

46 

1 

108 

1 

1 

10 

0 

13 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

26 

3 

147 

1 

- 

24 

78 

- 

9 

1 

1 

13 

- 

- 

9 

2 

8 

23 

- 

- 

3 

Total 123 114 120 207 180 218 

Country of 

oriqin 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Korea, Rep. of 

Taiwan 

Thailand 

Malaysia 

Philippine 

Norway 

Denmark 

United Kingdom 

France 

Portugal 

Spain 

Italy 

Greece 

Bulgaria 

Croatia 

U.S.A. 

Brazil 

Morocco 

- 

1 

20 

1 

6 

58 

1 

26 

15 

2 

2 

- 

- 

1 - 

- 

21 

12 

134 

33 

1 

8 

4 

5 

0 

8 

4 

0 

22 

3 

- 

- 

- 

49 

1 

114 

12 

- 

- 

- 

15 

1 

11 

109 

1 

21 

- 

15 

1 

11 

131 

- 

33 

13 

127 

- 

25 

1 

15 

35 

7 

28 

1 

2 

1 

8 9 

1 

4 

- 

2 3 

- 

6 

8 19 

1 

45 

3 - - - - 2 - Aus t ra 1 i a 

Total 196 157 220 231 255 276 

-* no imports 

0** more than zero but less than 500 metric tons 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Sources: Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990-2001 

23 

_-I- 
Table 16. Japanese Imports of Sardines, in Airtight Containers by 

Country of Origin and Value, 1989-2000 (U.S. $1,000). 

Country of 

origin 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 

China 

Thailand 

Malaysia 

Norway 

Denmark 

United Kingdom 

France 

Portugal 

Spain 

U.S.A. 

Italy 

Brazil 

Morocco 

Canada 

-* 12 2 

8 35 26 68 76 73 

3 12 

7 95 731 833 1,404 98 0 1,364 

5 5 2 4 

- - 

- - - - 

- - 

7 2 - - - - 

2 8 2 

11 

- 24 - 

13 23 34 45 50 49 

26 

2 30 

52 47 75 

3 

3 - 

8 16 

- - 

- - - - 

7 - - - 

- - - 

- - - - - 

36 19 - - - - 

Total 866 829 92 0 1,592 1,188 1,635 

Country of 

origin 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Korea, Rep. of 

Taiwan 

Thai 1 and 

Ma lays ia 

Philippines 

Norway 

De nma r k 

United Kingdom 

France 

Fortugal 

Spain 

Italy 

Greece 

Bulgaria 

Croatia 

U.S.A. 

Brazil 

Morocco 

Aus t ra 1 i a 

- - - 4 - - 

- 3 - - - - 

57 37 28 21 31 59 

12 11 39 88 19 

1,242 664 1,106 1,275 1,447 1,439 

2 2 5 2 - - 

- 

- 3 6 - - - 

79 162 132 161 203 203 

10 12 11 65 

48 79 40 60 36 79 

26 18 24 16 

26 27 36 24 43 15 

- - 

- - 

2 - 

48 

17 27 

2 19 

84 196 113 82 88 

21 

19 

- - - - 

- - - - - 

- - - - 

- - - - 

- 

- - 

- 

- 22 

38 

24 - - - 

Total 1,528 1,118 1,599 1,711 2,074 2,010 

-* no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Sources: Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1990-2001 

24 
0 

0 

0 

c\1 

m 

m 

d 

a 

co 

m 

m 

ri 

P 

a 

a 

ri 

w 

m 

rl 

a 

Ln 

a 

a 

d 

Tr 

a 

a 

4 

m 

m 

I+ 

a 

N 

m 

d 

a 

d 

0-7 

rl 

a 

0 

m 

ri 

a 

a 

a 

03 

d 

H 

0 

x 

Nd 

c, -4 

do 

3 .d ON 

30 

INr-lcnlNwIo 

drl 0 P 

r- ri 

0 

0 

0 

N 

a 

a 

a 

T03 

a 

a 

d 

rm 

cn 

Tw 

m 

m 

rIn 

a 

a 

rl 

Tr 

m 

m 

ri 

m 

m 

ri 

a 

N 

cn 

d 

a 

rl 

m 

m 

d 

0 

m 

ri 

a 

m 

co 

cn 

d 

4-4 

0 

x 

Nd 

c, 

d5 

3 -d 

ON 

uo 

ww0311P1N10 co T-Ln 

m 

NwllTrwTroIl 

LnLo LnrirlTwmlrr-dlmll 

Lor- Tr Ln 

d 

wPllwldolI 

ma r- w 

rl 

* * 

mmoiai I~II w rl W 

TrPr-lNllwml 

4Lom 0 

d N 

IH 

0 

m 

I Pw 

Nd 

cnd 

d 

. 

mr-m 

rlLnLn 

a 

m 1 mm Lo I-- 

c\1 N 

imia 

cow 

dri 

L 

Nom1 IwlriI' 

mri0 rlw 

rim 

w IO I wLo00 I 

Lo co P Nrl 

Tr N 

TrN I I ww I m I N03 Ln m 03 w W 

mLo I I w I Trr- I 

Na d d 

TN ri Ln 

d 

. 

~r~m I I I a I 

Nm Lo 0 

P Tr 

coo4 I P I I mo 

NwN ON 

ONm Tr 

d d 

. . 

mrvr- I IN II I 

wr- Lo d d 

rH 

0 

m a a, 

a, &n cru 

jr 

I) 

0 

u 

. 

r) 

1 

--I 

. 

. 

. 

r) 

n 

. 

T 

x) 

x) 

n 

D 

--I 

. 

5\ 

-4 

n 

--I 

. 

v 

3 

3 

u 

. 

3 

n 

9 

u 

. 

0 

N 

N 

4 

. 

33 

3 

n 

N 

. 

n 

rt 

3 

?-I 

. 

Lo 

m 

a 

d 

0 

0 

c\I 

I 

0 

cn 

cn 

ri 

c 

0 

-4 

c, 

a 

-4 

u 

0 

rn 

2 

L9 

!4 

a, 

c, 

N 

0 

OH 

d 

-4 (I) 

a 

735: 

a 

4J7 

t 00 

I Nu) 
EXPORTS 

Japanese exports of sardine products from 1996 through 2000 

are summarized in Tables 19 and 20. In 2000, Japan exported 3,464 

mt, amounting to $5 million for all sardine products, a decrease 

of 63 percent in volume and 41 percent in value from the 1999 

level. Much of the decrease in volume was due to lower exports of 

frozen sardine. Canned sardine was the most valuable export 

product, worth $3 million, followed by frozen ($1.9 million) and 

prepared products ($0.2 million) . 

Japanese exports of frozen sardine in 2000 decreased 70 

percent in volume and 64 percent in value from the 1999 level. 

The Republic of Korea was the major market taking 34 percent in 

volume and 27 percent in value of Japanese frozen sardine exports 

in 2000 (Ministry of Finance 2001). Other important buyers in 

2000 were Australia (505 mt), China (367 mt), American Samoa (203 

mt) and Guam (129 mt). 

Exports of canned sardine in tomato sauce in 2000 also showed 

a decrease from 1999. Hong Kong was by far the largest market 

purchasing 66 percent in volume and 68 percent in value of 

Japanese exports of this product (Ministry of Finance 2001). 

Other important buyers for canned sardine in tomato sauce in 2000 

were Singapore (106 mt) and Canada (94 mt). Japanese exports of 

sardine canned in water and in other packs are minor. New 

Caledonia and Guam were the only markets for sardine canned in 

water in 2000. The main markets for sardine canned in other packs 

in 2000 were Taiwan (3 mt), New Caledonia (2 mt), and Micronesia 

(1 mt). 

The few exports of prepared or preserved products in 2000 

increased substantially from the previous year. The major buyer 

in 2000 was New Caledonia (8 mt; Ministry of Finance 1997-2001). 

'The Republic of Korea purchased 6 mt of prepared sardine products 

in 2000. This was a notable increase from the 1999 purchase of 

0.5 mt of this product. Other markets in 2000 were Taiwan (4 mt), 

and the United States (3 mt) . 

26 
Table 19. Japanese Exports of Sardine by Product Form and Volume, 

1996-2000 (metric tons). 

Product form 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Fresh - -* 1 0** 0 

Frozen 1,817 3,711 3,169 8,362 2,498 

Canned: 

in tomato sauce 2,639 2,567 1,069 1,072 

in water 192 26 28 15 

930 

5 

other packs 52 5 5 2 8 

Prepared/preserved 13 16 9 11 23 

Total 4,713 6,326 4,280 9,462 3,464 

-* no exports 

0** more than zero but less than 0.5 metric tons 

Source: Ministry of Finance 1997-2001 

Table 20. Japanese Exports of Sardine by Product Form and Value, 

1996-2000 (U.S. $1,000). 

Product form 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Fresh -* 3 2 3 

Frozen 1,686 2,587 2,395 5,367 1,929 

Canned: 

in tomato sauce 7,516 6,975 3,116 3,207 2,980 

in water 516 66 63 36 10 

other packs 285 31 30 21 46 

Prepared/preserved 170 242 111 174 229 

Total 10,173 9,904 5,717 8,808 5,194 

- 

-* no exports 

Sources: Ministry of Finance 1997-2001 

Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1997-2001 

27 
COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS 

Table 21 shows Japan's monthly and annual inventories of 

frozen sardines between 1995 and 2001. Monthly average inventory 

for 2000 was a record low, due to poor Japanese catches. Monthly 

inventories to June 2001 have been even lower. 

Table 21. Monthly and Annual Cold Storage Holdings of Frozen 

Sardines, 1995-2001 (metric tons). 

End of 

month 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 

January 28,853 33,743 44,929 27,588 35,670 44,966 24,079 

February 35,985 51,724 43,198 27,569 47,404 42,383 23,206 

March 45,604 50,148 39,157 32,218 47,925 40,381 24,499 

April 40,316 50,472 34,463 35,088 44,274 37,234 22,237 

May 38,478 47,301 32,808 35,740 47,618 35,432 21,773 

June 43,373 40,427 40,215 35,975 55,947 29,003 26,056 

July 49,618 35,772 42,309 34,345 65,945 26,184 

August 51,484 34,128 47,234 31,701 70,060 22,935 

September 49,283 32,233 46,205 26,056 63,071 19,947 

October 44,708 32,924 42,036 21,586 60,218 19,828 

November 35,601 36,530 35,696 23,656 47,417 17,673 

December 30,917 40,646 33,414 31,758 45,646 21,569 

Jan.-Dec. 494,220 486,045 481,664 363,280 631,195 357,535 

Monthly 

Average 41,185 40,504 40,139 30,273 52,600 29,795 

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 

1997-2001 

Suisan Tsushin Sha 2000-2001 

28 
SUPPLY 

The annual supply of sardines for the Japanese market and for 

export is comprised of the cold storage inventory on January 1, 

plus domestic catches and imports. The annual supply reached a 

record high in 1988 due to sharply increased domestic catches 

(Table 22). Total annual supply steadily decreased from 1989 to 

1998 because imports did not make up for decreased domestic 

catches. In 2000, however, sharply increased imports of sardine 

helped avert a large deficit in supply, as the catch was at 

a 28-year low. 

Between 1996 and 2000, annual sardine supplies ranged between 

205,000 and 390,000 mt, averaging 302,000 mt. During this period 

catches averaged 255,938 mt (about 85 percent of the total 

supply). The January inventory averaged 36,556 mt (12 percent), 

and imports 9,800 mt (3 percent). The percentage of the market 

supplied by imports increased from 1 percent in 1996 to 11 percent 

in 2000. 

Table 22. Japanese Annual Supply of Sardines, 1988-2000 

(metric tons). 

Inventory 

Year Imports (January 1) Catch Supply 

1988 229 25,944 4,488,411 4,514,584 

1989 273 37,749 4,098,989 4,128,011 

1990 817 41,614 3,678,229 3,720,660 

1991 62 8 46,342 3,010,498 3,057,468 

1992 387 41,805 2,223,766 2,265,958 

1993 609 67,427 1,713,687 1,781,713 

1994 656 63,350 1,188,848 1,252,854 

1995 8,354 30,285 661,391 700,030 

1996 4,530 31,086 319,354 354,970 

1997 5,137 40,654 284,054 329,845 

1998 4,860 33,414 167,073 205,347 

1999 9,318 31,758 351,207 392,283 

2000 25,206 45,870 158,000 229,076 

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 

1990-2001 

Suisan Tsushin Sha 2000-2001 

Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1989-2001 

29 
UTILIZATION 

Sardines are used as fresh and processed food, as well as for 

bait, aquaculture feed, oil and meal for animal feed, and 

fertilizer (Table 23). 

Most of the Japanese sardine harvest is used in aquaculture 

feed and for bait (Tables 23 and 24). The decline in sardine 

catch, however, caused changes in the utilization pattern. From 

1995 to 2000, the quantity of sardine used for bait and 

aquaculture decreased from 325,000 mt to 61,000 mt. As a share of 

total landings, bait and aquaculture fell from 83 percent to 73 

percent during the period. 

Sardine meal is also used in feed for fish culture, as well 

as in animal feed, and fertilizer. The amount used for the 

production of fish meal and oil also decreased sharply from 

14,000 mt to 1,000 mt for the period. 

Sardine use in the fresh fish market is fairly stable 

compared to other product forms. Between 9,000 and 15,000 mt of 

the sardine landings were distributed to the fresh sardine market 

during 1995-2000. Fresh sardine is sold whole in retail stores 

for home consumption. 

table by the Japanese. The most popular dish is broiled or 

grilled sardine which is consumed year round. Recently, some high 

quality fresh sardine and quick frozen sardine have been used as 

"sashimi", which typically consists of thin slices of raw seafood, 

at sushi restaurants as well as neighborhood restaurants. Sardine 

sashimi is also sold in supermarkets for home consumption 

Keizai Shinbun Sha September 15, 1999 and Suisan Keizai Sha 

August 1, 2001). 

It is prepared in various ways for the 

(Hokkai 

Sardine is also used in canned, dried, salted, or kneaded 

products. Salted-dried sardine, which is included under "other 

processed" products in Tables 23 and 24, is the most popular 

product among these processed foods. About 8,000 mt of sardine 

were used for "other processed" products in 2000. 

30 
Table 23. Utilization of Japanese Sardine at 33 Major Landing 

Ports in Japan by Volume, 1995-2000 (metric tons) 

~ ~ 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Total landings 

from 33 ports 391,129 189,602 159,600 93,146 213,616 83,678 

Human consumption: 

fresh 14,683 12,893 9,073 12,498 15,388 9,962 

kneaded/minced 5,619 3,667 3,711 2,155 3,792 1,877 

canned 3,543 4,600 1,184 2,578 4,810 1,727 

other processed 28,961 14,724 8,886 5,425 16,017 7,664 

Fish oil/ 

fish meall 13,747 23,544 3,638 338 3,858 1,462 

Fish bait/ 

aquaculture feed 324,576 130,174 133,108 70,152 169,751 60,986 

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 

1997-2001 

Suisan Tsushin Sha 2001 

Table 24. Utilization of Japanese Sardine at 33 Major Landing 

Ports in Japan by Share, 1995-2000 (percent) 

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Total landings 

from 33 ports 100 100 100 100 100 100 

Human consumption: 

fresh 3.8 6.8 5.7 13.4 7.2 11.9 

kneaded/minced 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.3 1.8 2.2 

canned 0.9 2.4 0.7 2.8 2.2 2.1 

other processed 7.4 7.8 5.6 5.8 7.5 9.2 

Fish oil/ 

fish meal 3.5 12.4 2.3 0.4 1.8 1.8 

Fish bait/ 

aquaculture feed 83.0 68.7 83.4 75.3 79.5 72.9 

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 

1997-2001 

Suisan Tsushin Sha 2001 

31 
WHOLESALE MARKET 

Sardine is usually sold through auction at consumer 

wholesale markets located in consumption areas, and at production 

wholesale markets located at Japanese ports of landings. Sardine 

is also sold directly to processors and representatives of 

supermarket chains. There are about 270 consumer and 340 

production wholesale markets for fish in Japan (Suisan Sha 1993 

and 1995). The largest consumer wholesale fish market is the 

Tokyo Central Wholesale Market. In 2000, this market handled 

about 723,000 mt of fishery products valued at about $6.7 billion 

(Suisan Keizai Shinbun Sha February 6, 2001). It therefore plays 

an important role in providing indicators about supply and demand 

of fishery products in Japan. 

Central Wholesale Market also generally serve as price indices 

for fishery products throughout the world. 

Wholesale prices at the Tokyo 

Wholesale prices for sardines vary widely, depending on 

quality, size of fish, origin, species, product form, supply and 

demand, and other factors. 

Wholesale Prices at the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market 

Tables 25-28 show monthly and annual average wholesale 

prices and sales volume of sardines at the Tokyo Central 

Wholesale Market between 1991 and 2000. Wholesale prices for 

both fresh and frozen sardines showed fluctuations which were 

influenced mainly by availability of sardines, usually, the lower 

the supply, the higher the price. 

The highest price for fresh sardine during this period was 

achieved in November 2000 at 779 yen/kg, when supply was lowest 

at 288 mt. 

(597 yen/kg) occurred in February 1999, which also corresponded 

to a period of lower supply. 

With respect to frozen sardine, the highest price 

Size of fish is also an important determinant of price. 

Generally, larger fish command higher prices. Auction prices for 

fresh sardine at Tokyo Central Wholesale Market on September 

2001 were 1,000-2,000 yen/kg for “extra large (less than 30 fish 

in a 5-kg box)” sardine and 500-1,500 yen/kg for “large (30-40 

fish in a 5-kg box)” sardine (Nikkan Shokuryo Shinbun Sha 

September 7, 2001). 

6, 

32 
3 

3 

3 

\1 

n 

n 

n 

i 

0 

n 

n 

-I 

. 

n 

n 

-I 

s) 

n 

n 

-I 

n 

n 

-I 

n 

s 

n 

n 

-I 

'? 

n 

n 

4 

U 

n 

n 

--I 

--I 

n 

-I 

n 

C 

c, 

C 

0 

2 

cuoomcncu 

cocum(ua3cn 

cocoocnorl 

ri rlri 

. .. 

cnocoriecu 

r-owr-r-m 

wr-r-r-r-rrnd(ucodPmmocndd 

(ucoocncna 

. . rid 

KrmWmcoC 

rieomau 

mdr-r-r-r 

.. 

rid 

0 

c 

-4 

a 

c 

7 

0 

k 

0 

c, 

a, 

7 

a 

a 

a 

rd 

c, 

0 

C 

h 

m 

E 

-I 

m 

c, 

0 

b 

d 

0 

0 

(u 

I 

cu 

cn 

cn 

ri 

c, 

C 

a, 

Ll 

a, 

3 

0 

c3 

c 

rd 

c, 

-4 

4 

0 

a 

0 

Ll 

c, 

a, 

0 

h 

x 

0 

E 

5 

.. 

a, 

u 

k 

7 

0 

m 

33 
3 

3 

3 

U 

n 

n 

n 

-I 

0 

n 

-I 

n 

. 

n 

n 

i 

D 

n 

i 

n 

n 

n 

n 

i 

3- 

n 

i 

n 

r) 

n 

n 

-i 

U 

n 

n 

-I 

i 

n 

n 

-I 

4 -4 

J - 

5 

z 

k 

r-4 

0 

0 

c\I 

I 

cv 

cn 

m 

d 

c, 

d 

a, 

k 

a, 

3 

0 

u 

c 

rd 

c, 

.d 

4 

0 

a 

0 

!4 

c, 

a, 

Z 

0 

h 

A 

0 

E+ 

2 

.. 

a, 

u 

Li 

7 

0 

m 

34 
c 

+, 

a, 

x 

& 

B 

a, 

rl 

Id 

0 

P 

W 

co 

W 

d 

cr 

0- 

I-- 

r 

C 

rff 

v 

IC 

r 

r 

u 

r 

r 

C 

C 

c 

C 

c 

r 

( 

( 

v1 

a, 

rl 

2 mwwmcoco ri 

mcomomrn 

rldrl 

rl 

0 

0 

N 

I 

N 

m 

cn 

d 

c, 

c 

a, 

L4 

a, 

3 

0 

u 

c 

rb 

c, 

-d 

4 

0 

a 

0 

I-( 

c, 

a, 

Z 

0 

h 

x 

0 

E 

2 

.. 

a, 

u 

Ll 

7 

0 

UI 

coPmPmff 

rl rlml'ml'co 

d rn 

t3-l 

c 

Ti 

a 

c 

3 

0 

Ll 

0 

c, 

a, 

3 

a 

a 

a 

(d 

t! 

0 

c 

h 

(d 

E 

ri 

(d 

c, 

0 

E 

h 

hLl 

I-(@ 

(d 

35 
h 

hk 

k(d 

k 

a, kk 

ri 

0 

0 

c\l 

I 

cJ 

cn 

cn 

d 

c, 

C 

a, 

Li 

a, 

3 

0 

u 

c 

rd 

c, 

-4 

ri 

0 

c4 

0 

L4 

c, 

a, 

0 

h 

2 

0 

E 

5 

.. 

a, 

u 

Li 

7 

0 

m 

36 
Wholesale Prices at 10 Major Markets 

Tables 29 show annual average wholesale prices and supply of 

fresh sardine at 10 major central wholesale markets in Japan 

between 1991 and 2000. Annual average prices fluctuated 

considerably during that period, ranging from a low of 178 yen/kg 

to a high of 308 yen/kg, and as in Tokyo, the fluctuations were 

influenced mainly by volume of available supply. 

Annual average exchange rates show that relative to the yen, 

the U.S. dollar depreciated over 20 percent from 1991 to 1999 

(Appendix 2). Thus annual average wholesale prices of sardine 

at 10 major wholesale markets increased 46 percent in yen and 83 

percent in dollars in 2000 over 1991 (Table 29). 

Direct Sales to Supermarket Chains 

Huge national chains of supermarkets have become significant 

factors in marketing of food products. Many of these 

supermarkets maintain independent supply systems, dealing 

directly with producers, including those located overseas. Since 

these retailers typically deal in large quantities, they are able 

to buy directly from suppliers rather than from wholesale 

markets. Thus they represent a second avenue of sales for 

suppliers. 

37 
Table 29. Annual Supply and Average Wholesale Prices of Fresh 

Sardines at 10 Major Central Wholesale Markets, 

1991-2000. 

Year supply Yen/kg $/kg 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

48,344 

49,256 

49,084 

43,823 

37,583 

38,611 

46,240 

41,418 

46,488 

36,675 

211 

198 

178 

192 

238 

294 

260 

300 

268 

308 

1.57 

1.56 

1.59 

1.87 

2.53 

2.71 

2.16 

2.28 

2.34 

2.87 

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 

1993-2001 

Suisan Keizai Shinbun Sha February 19, 2001 

Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1992-2001 

38 
REFERENCES 

Agriculture and Forestry Research Center. 1965. World Fisheries. 

Tokyo, Japan. 974 p. 

California Department of Fish and Game. 2000. CalifGrnia 

Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations Reports. 208 p. 

Chikuni, S. 1985. The fish resources of the northwest Pacific. 

FA0 Fish. Tech. Pap. 266: 190 p. 

Conser, R.J., K.T. Hill, P.R. Crone, and D. Bergen. 2000. Stock 

Assessment of Pacific Sardine with Management 

Recommendations for 2001, Executive Summary. NMFS. Southwest 

Fisheries Science Center. La Jolla, CA 

FAO. 1950. [Annual report series]. FA0 yearbook of Fishery 

statistics 1948-49. Food and Agriculture Organization of the 

United Nations, Rome. 

FAO. 1973, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1992, 1999-2001. [Annual report 

series]. FA0 yearbook, fishery statistics, catches and 

landings. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United 

Nations, Rome. 

Fukushima, S., and Y. Ogawa. 1988. Changes in catch composition 

of coastal pelagic fishes in relation to long-term 

fluctuations in oceanographic condition of the northeastern 

Pacific Ocean. Bull. Tohoku Reg. Fish. Res. Lab. 

50: 67-95 p. 

Gates, E.Doyle. 1960. Pacific Sardine. California Ocean Fisheries 

Resources. State of California Department of Fish and Game. 

79 p. 

Hiramoto, K. 1987. Fisheries in Japan. The sardine ecology and 

fishery in the Jobanand Boso waters of Japan. 

13: 189-207 p. 

Hokkai Keizai Shinbun Sha. 1999 [Japanese daily fishery 

newspaper; in Japanese]. Nikkan Hokkai Keizai. 

Otaru, Japan. 2p. 

Itoh, S. 1961. Fishery biology of the sardine, Sardinops 

melanosticta, in the waters around Japan. Bull. Japan Sea 

Reg. Fish. Res. Lab. 9:l-227. (in Japanese). 

39 
. 1987. The life cycle and ecology of sardines. Fisheries in 

Japan. Japan. 177-187 p. 

Japan Marine Products Importers Association. 1989-2001. Japanese 

imports of marine products (statistics). Tokyo, Japan. 

Kawasaki, T., M. Omori. 1995. Possible mechanisms underlying 

fluctuations in the Far Eastern Sardine population inferred 

from time series of two biological traits. Fisheries 

Oceanography. 4:3, 238-242 p. 

Kishida, T., and M. Suda. 1998. Analysis of the cause of stock 

fluctuation in the Japanese sardine, Sardinops 

melanostictus, using a population dynamics model. Bull. 

Natl. Res. Fish. Sci. 11: 37-61 p. 

Kondo, K. 1980. The recovery of the Japanese sardine-the 

biological basis of stock-size fluctuation. Rapp. P.-V. 

Reun. Cons. Int. Explor. Mer. 177: 332-354 p. 

Lyles, C.H. 1965. Historical Fishery Statistics. Pacific Sardine 

Fishery, 1915-63. Fishery Statistics of the United States 

1963. United States Department of the Interior. 

Matsuda, H., T. Wada, Y. Takeuchi, and Y. Matsumiya. 1991. 

Alternative models for species replacement of pelagic 

fishes. Res. Pop. Ecol. 33:41-56 p 

. 1992. Model analysis of the effect of environmental 

fluctuation on the species replacement pattern of pelagic 

fishes under interspecific competition. Res. Pop. Ecol. 

34:309-319 p 

Minato Shinbun Sha. 2000 [Japanese daily fisheries and food 

news in Japanese]. Shimonoseki, Japan. 4 p. 

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 1972, 1990- 

2001.[Annual report series]. Gyogyo yoshoku nenpo [Annual 

production of fisheries and culture in Japanese]. Statistics 

and Information Department. Tokyo, Japan. 

. 1997-2001. {Annual report series]. Gyogyo suisanbutsu 

ryutsu tokei nenpo [Annual statistics of fishery marketing 

in Japanese]. Statistics and Information Department. Tokyo, 

Japan. 

-- .1998-1999. Annual report on Japan's fisheries. Tokyo, 

Japan. 

40 
Ministry of Finance. 1997-2001. Shuyo Suisan Yunyu Boeki Tokei 

[Fishery Import Statistics by Major Species in Japanese]. 

Trade Statistics Department. Tokyo, Japan. 

Nikkan Shokuryo Shinbun Sha. 2001 [Japanese daily fishery 

newspaper in Japanese]. Nikkan Shokuro Shinbun. Tokyo, 

Japan. 2 p. 

Noto, M., and I. Yasuda. 1999. Population decline of the Japanese 

sardine, Sardinops melanostictus, in relation or sea surface 

temperature in the Kuroshio Extension. Can. J. Aquat. Sci. 

56: 973-983 p. 

Pacific Fishery Management Council. 1998. Eighth Amendment of the 

Northern Anchovy Fishery Management Plan. Portland, OR. 

. 2001. PFMC All W-0-C Coastal Pelagic Quarterly Report for 

Five Species for 2000 for All Gear-types and All Areas. 

Database. Portland, OR. 

Suisan Keizai Shinbun Sha. 1998, 2001 [Japanese daily fishery 

newspapers in Japanese]. Nikkan Suisan Keizai Shinbun. 

Tokyo, Japan. 4 p. 

Suisan Sha. 1993, 1995. Suisan nenkan [Annual fishery 

statistics in Japanese]. Tokyo, Japan. 

Suisan Tsushin Sha. 2000, 2001. [Japanese daily fishery 

newspapers in Japanese]. Nikkan Suisan Tsushin. Tokyo, 

Japan. 4 p. 

Tokyo Metropolitan Government. 1992-2001 [Annual report series]. 

Tokyo to Chuo Oroshiuri Ichiba Nenpo [Tokyo central 

wholesale market, annual report]. Tokyo, Japan. 

U.S. Department of Commerce. 2001. United States Exports. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics Division. 

U.S. Embassy, Fisheries. 2001. Major Japanese sardine importers. 

Commercial Service Section, Tokyo, Japan. 

. 2001. Japanese import quota. Commercial Service Section, 

Tokyo, Japan. 

Wada, T., and L.D. Jacobson. 1998. Regimes and stock-recruitment 

relationships in Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus), 

1951-1995. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 55: 2455-2463 p. 
Whitehead, P.J.P. 1985. FA0 species catalogue. Vo1.7. Clupeoid 

fishes of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue 

of the herrings, sardines, pilchards, sprats, anchovies and 

wolfherrigs. Part 1 - Chirocentridae, Clupeidae and 

Pristigasteridae. FA0 Fish. Synop., (125) Vo1.7, Pt.l:303 p. 

Yasuda, I., H. Sugisaki, Y. Watanabe, S. Minobe, and Y. Oozeki. 

1999. Inter-decadal variations in Japanese Sardine and ocean 

climate. Fish. Oceanogr. 8: 18-24 p. 

42 
COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS : 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS : 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS : 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

Products 

Appendix 1. Japanese Importers with Import Quotas for Sardine 

.- 

Abekame Shoten Co., Ltd. 

1-13-1 Shinhamacho, Shiogama, Miyagi, 985-0001 Japan 

Hitoshi Abe, President 

81-22-364-3377 

81-22-364-3369 

Asahi Corporation 

2-4 Ichirizuka,Nagaokakyo, Kyoto 617-0831 Japan 

Tanaka 

81-75-951-0521 

81-75-951-0520 

Daimaru Kogyo Ltd., Agricultural C Marine Products 

Dept. 

2-18-11 Kiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8510 Japan 

Haruj i Fuj imori 

81-3-3820-7123 

81-3-3820-7089 

Daishin Gyogyo K.K. 

1-3-9 Higashi-shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan 

Daitoh Trading Co . , Ltd. 

3-7-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0013 Japan 

Kiyoshi Nakaj ima 

81-3-5512-2891 

81-3-5512-2852 

Dosui, K.K. 

27-5 Toyokawacho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040 Japan 

Motohiro Takano 

81-138-22-7136 

81-138-22-3777 

Eiko Boeki, K.K. 

7-9-15 Matsumaedai, Moriyacho, Kitasoma-gun, 

Ibaraki Japan 

Fine Foods, K.K. 

Address: 2-14-2 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan 

Fukumaru Suisan K.K. 

Mailing Address: 4-12 Hamamatsucho 

Ishinomaki, Meagi Japan 

43 
COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

P.HONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

COMPANY: 

ACDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

Fuso Trading, K.K. 

1-6-12-311 Minamikashiwa, Kashiwa, Chiba Japan 

Gulf Foods Co., ltd 

Address: 7-17-7 Tsukij, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104 Japan 

Akemi Okubo 

81-3-5565-3126 

81-3-5565-3127 

Hanwa Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Food Dept 

1-13-10 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8429 Japan 

Kazuo Yokota 

81-3-3544-2323 

81-3-3544-2050 

Hoko Fishing Co., Ltd. 

1-2-4 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045 Japan 

Shigeyuki Sanjo 

81-3-3542-5421 

81-3-3545-2167 

Ito Shoten, K.K. (Chiba) 

Address: Ha-2801, Asahi, Chiba Japan 

Kaisei Marine Products, Inc 

1-2-3 Higashi-yamatocho, Shimonoseki, 

Yamaguchi 750Japan 

Masatake Miyazaki 

81-832-67-8541 

81-832-67-7701 

Kanehide Shoji 

1228 Onaha, Nishihara-cho, Naha, Okinawa Japan 

1. K. Nakai 

Kashima Kimura Reizo K.K. 

Kashima-gun, Ibaraki 314-0254 Japan 

Shioi 

3002-62 Oaza-ohta, Hazakicho 

81-479-46-3130 

81-479-46-3135 

Kashiwa Gyorui K.K. 

85 Wakashiba, Kashiwa, Chiba Japan 

44 
COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY c 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

Kawasho Corporation, Foodstuff Dept. 

2-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004 Japan 

Yuj i Fuj imura 

81-3-5203-5232 

81-3-5203-5386 

Kita Borneo Suisan K.K. 

4-4-8 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan 

Kohyo Co., Ltd. 

5-4-19 Shinsei, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie 510-0064 Japan 

Yutaka Miwa 

81-593-54-5411 

81-593-54-3447 

Kyodo Agri-Marine MFG. Ltd. 

940 Gushikawa, Gushikawa, Okinawa 904-2223 Japan 

940 Gushikawa 

81-98-974-3133 

81-98-974-3133 

Mack, K.K. 

2-4-4 Shintomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan 

Maehama Co., Ltd. 

4-7-8 Ohgimachi, Miyagino-ku, Sendai, 

Miyagi 983-0034 Japan 

Haedong Shin 

81-22-238-1711 

81-22-239-3988 

Maruha Corporation 

Mailing Address: 1-1-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, 

Tokyo 100-0004Japan 

Fumito Kawa 

81-3-3216-0269 

81-3-3214-0269 

Maruwazu Trading Co., Ltd. 

2-1-8 Shinmeicho-higashi, Sakai-shi 

Osaka, Osaka 590 Japan 

Nakayama 

81-722-33-6321 

81-722-33-6322 

45 
COMPANY: Matsuoka Co., Ltd. 

ADDRESS: 1-10-12, Higashi-yamatomachi 

Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi 750-8512 Japan 

FAX : 81-832-67-5286 

COMPANY: Matsuwa Shoji K.K. 

ADDRESS: 1-1 Isonocho, Hyogo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Japan 

COMPANY: Mitsubishi Corporation, Marine Products Dept 

ADDRESS: 2-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005 Japan 

FAX : 81-3-3210-6726 

COMPANY: Mover, K.K. 

ADDRESS: 5-4-6 Nishikasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo Japan 

COMPANY: Nakano Suisan, K.K. 

ADDRESS: 7-15-2 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan 

COMPANY: Nichimo Co., Ltd., Food Business Department 

ADDRESS: Tennozu Yusen Bldg., 2-2-20 Higashi-shinagawa 

Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002Japan 

CONTACT: Katsuyasu Ito 

PHONE : 81-3-3458-3020 

FAX : 81-3-3458-4963 

COMPANY: Nichiro Corporation 

ADDRESS: 1-12-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006 Japan 

CONTACT: Hidetaka Ochi 

PHONE : 81-3-3240-6320 

FAX : 81-3-3287-2326 

CONTACT: Niigata Reizo K.K. 

ADDRESS: 4-3776 Irifunecho-dori, Niigata, Niigata 950 Japan 

CONTACT: Kunihiko Nakada 

PHONE : 81-25-246-7001 

FAX : 81-25-246-7046 

COMPANY: Nomura Trading Co., Ltd., Tokyo Marine Prod. Dept. 

ADDRESS: 1-7-8 Higashi-kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0031 Japan 

FAX : 81-3-5821-1258 

COMPANY: Ogura Boeki K.K. 

ADDRESS: 3-4-4 Nihonbashi-muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan 

COMPANY: Okinawa Free Zone Foods, K.K. 

ADDRESS: Bldg. 1, Okinawa Free Trade Zone, Kagami-mizusakihara 

Jisaki, Naha, Okinawa Japan 

46 
COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

COMPANY: : 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT: 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS: 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS : 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

COMPANY: 

ADDRESS : 

CONTACT : 

PHONE : 

FAX : 

Plateau Co., Ltd. 

Dogyoren Bldg. 6F, 7-13-5 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, 

Tokyo, 104 Japan 

Genya Yoshida 

81-3-3543-8808 

81-3-3545-9846 

SCL, K.K. 

1-26-4 Minamidai, Seya-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan 

Shin Nihon Global Inc. 

SK Bldg. 3F, 1-13-19 Shintomi, Chuo-ku, 

Tokyo 104-0041Japan 

Yoshihiko Kuroda 

81-3-3555-3605 

81-3-3555-3601 

Shinto Corporation (Shinto Bussan K.K.) 

2-14-8 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104Japan 

H. Tsuchikane 

81-3-3546-1281 

81-3-3546-1277 

Soura Kanzume K.K. 

986 Ogatacho, Sasebo, Nagasaki Japan 

Sumikin Bussan Kaisha, Ltd., Food Products Dept. 

8-5-27 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 Japan 

81-3-5412-5178 

Sunhnd Corp. 

Kitaguchi Saito Bldg., 5-6-20 Honcho, Funabashi, 

Chiba 273-0005Japan 

Akiyoshi Okubo 

81 - 4 7- 4 6 0-2 0 8 0 

81 -47 - 4 60-2 0 99 

Tairyo Enterprises, K.K. 

1-13-7 Uchikanda, Ghiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan 

Noboru Ishimori 

8 1 - 329 4 -30 0 6 

81-3294-3005 

47 
COMPANY: Takeichi & Co., Ltd. 

ADDRESS: Shuwa No. 3 Kayabacho Bldg., 3-12-6, 

CONTACT: Hiromi Kawada 

Nihonbashi-kayabacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0025 Japan 

PHONE : 81-3-3669-9252 

FAX : 81-3-3669-3540 

COMPANY: Takuto Tsusho 

ADDRESS: 757-49 Ishihata, Mizuho-cho 

Nishitama-gun, Tokyo Japan 

COMPANY: Times, K.K. 

ADDRESS: 2-14-5 Shintomi 

Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan 

COMPANY: Toka Boeki K.K. 

ADDRESS: 11-26 Higashidacho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 

Kanagawa Japan 

COMPANY: Tokai Denpun Co., Ltd. 

ADDRESS: 24-15 Tenmacho, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka Japan 

CONTACT: Etsuro Uematsu 

PHONE : 81-54-253-1181 

FAX : 81-54-251-3524 CONTACT: 

COMPANY: Tokan Boeki K.K. 

ADDRESS: 4-5-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan 

C.OMPANY: Tokyo Commercial Co., Ltd. 

ADDRESS: 8-15 Toyomicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055 Japan 

CONTACT: Kosuke Sakai 

PHONE : 81-3-3534-1301 

FAX : 81-3-3532-9420 

COMPANY: Towa Shokuhin K.K. 

ADDRESS: 3-2-1, Higashi 3-jo kita, Nishi-shoro, Shiranuka-cho 

Shiranuka-gun, Hokkaido Japan 

COMPANY: Trans Ocean Ltd. 

ADDRESS: 3-3-3-702 Tsukuda, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0051 Japan 

CONTACT: Etsuko Uozumi 

PHONE : 81-3-5548-2672 

FAX : 8 1-3-554 8-2 67 3 

COMPANY: Tri Marine Japan K.K. 

ADDRESS: 1-7-25 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan 

48 
COMPANY: Tsujino and Co., Ltd. 

ADDRESS: Tsukiji Mitsui Bldg. 3F, 4-7-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, 

Tokyo 104 Japan 

CONTACT: Tadaaki Sumita 

PHONE : 81-3-3545-2501 

FAX : 81-3-5565-0947 

COMPANY: Unique Trading K.K. 

ADDRESS: 2-1-16 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Japan 

COMPANY: Yokohama Reito K.K. 

ADDRESS: 1-1-7 Moriyacho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan 

COMPANY: Zensho Koeki K.K. 

ADDRESS: 1-30-20 Matsuyama, Naha, Okinawa Japan 

COMPANY: Zensui Co., Ltd. 

ADDRESS: 1-10-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104 Japan 

CONTACT: Takahashi 

PHONE : 81-3-5250-2411 

FAX : 81-3-5250-2415 

................................................................. 

The U.S. Embassy Tokyo, USFCS Tokyo and the National Marine 

Fisheries Service cannot be responsible for the accuracy of this 

information nor do they endorse any companies listed herein. ................................................................. 

Source: U.S. Embassy, Fisheries Commercial Service Section, 

Tokyo, Japan 2001 
Appendix 2. Monthly and Annual Average Exchange Rate Applied to 

Japanese Imports, 1976-2000 (yen/U.S. $1.00). 

Month 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 

Jan. 305.50 292.64 240.73 195.98 237.68 203.99 221.36 

Feb. 302.84 288.41 241.46 199.16 240.35 203.44 231.15 

Mar. 301.50 282.49 236.94 203.39 247.44 207.80 237.03 

Apr. 299.30 275.91 222.99 210.87 252.39 211.99 246.01 

May 299.00 277.66 225.36 217.81 238.71 217.18 237.25 

June 299.83 275.79 222.54 219.83 221.44 223.89 243.66 

July 296.89 267.78 205.17 217.24 217.95 226.55 256.07 

Aug . 292.81 265.70 191.18 216.13 224.85 236.35 257.18 

Sept. 288.18 267.14 190.94 220.54 219.10 230.26 258.60 

Oct. 288.43 261.78 187.76 225.41 210.18 229.15 268.14 

Nov. 294.12 249.13 184.41 238.48 211.28 230.56 272.81 

Dec. 295.68 241.87 196.54 244.62 212.85 218.15 250.33 

Jan.-Dec. 296.92 270.53 212.17 217.46 227.85 219.94 248.30 

Month 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 

(Jan. 232.89 233.83 252.04 202.07 159.01 126.01 125.64 

Feb . 237.03 233.98 256.66 193.53 152.70 128.57 128.49 

Mar. 235.99 228.79 260.53 180.21 153.47 128.72 128.00 

Apr. 238.61 225.10 254.49 178.62 146.97 125.64 132.12 

Ma Y 235.43 227.48 251.36 167.08 139.91 124.76 133.18 

June 238.48 231.56 250.26 169.29 142.58 125.23 143.06 

July 239.93 238.69 246.22 163.17 147.81 131.40 141.60 

Aug . 242.70 243.69 237.92 155.04 150.83 133.12 140.29 

Sept. 244.80 243.02 239.20 154.66 143.02 134.21 145.10 

Oet. 236.15 246.68 221.43 154.23 144.59 132.58 142.58 

Nov. 234.22 244.08 209.32 160.34 138.52 125.36 142.67 

Dec. 234.81 246.07 202.60 162.73 132.65 122.21 143.83 

Jan.-Dec. 237.59 236.91 240.17 170.08 146.01 128.15 137.26 

50 
Appendix 2 (Continued). Monthly and Annual Average Exchange Rate 

Applied to Japanese Imports, 1976-2000 

(yen/U.S. $1.00). 

Month 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 

Jan. 144.36 135.27 126.21 124.66 111.79 100.25 104.49 

Feb. 144.93 130.97 125.47 123.98 109.23 99.19 106.38 

Mar. 148.61 134.02 130.46 117.95 105.04 94.49 105.32 

Apr. 156.99 137.68 133.37 115.05 104.47 86.99 107.07 

May 157.09 137.71 132.77 110.81 103.07 83.75 106.02 

June 159.28 139.05 128.15 107.97 104.29 84.96 108.19 

July 151.95 138.85 125.61 108.16 99.55 85.46 103.55 

Aug . 148.90 137.00 126.99 105.38 99.57 90.73 107.84 

Sept. 142.96 136.24 124.36 104.37 99.25 98.48 108.78 

Oct. 133.82 131.72 121.03 105.79 98.97 100.88 110.99 

Nov. 128.31 130.47 122.71 107.80 97.41 101.56 112.86 

Dec. 130.86 129.14 124.11 108.35 99.22 101.51 112.70 

Jan.-Dec. 145.67 134.84 126.77 111.69 102.66 94.02 108.35 

Month 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Jan. 115.60 130.98 114.09 103.76 

Feb. 121.26 125.90 115.02 107.05 

Mar. 122.38 127.35 119.88 108.29 

Apr. 124.29 130.84 119.55 106.02 

May 123.99 132.33 120.21 107.38 

June 114.98 138.65 121.52 108.36 

July 114.08 140.47 121.56 106.34 

Aug . 117.18 143.44 115.95 108.70 

Sept. 119.44 138.58 110.21 106.71 

Oct. 121.18 129.32 106.34 107.88 

Nov. 122.27 118.14 105.21 108.14 

Dec. 127.90 120.26 103.73 110.67 

Jan.-Dec. 120.38 131.36 114.44 107.44 

Sources: Japan Marine Products Importers Association 1977-2001