NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS 

THE JAPANESE SEA URCHIN MARKET 

Sunee C. Sonu 

N OM-TM - N M FS-S W R-040 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Southwest Region 

NOVEMBER 2003 
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. 
NOM 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 2003 

THE JAPANESE SEA URCHIN MARKET 

Sunee C. Sonu 

Southwest Region 

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA 

Long Beach, California 90802 

NOM-TM-N MFS-SWR-040 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Donald L. Evans, Secretary 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

VDAM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

LIST OF TABLES . 

LIST OF FIGURES . 

APPENDIX .... 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

INTRODUCTION . . 

WORLD FISHERIES . 

JAPANESE FISHERY 

IMPORTS ..... 

MARKET ..... 

REFERENCES ... 

Page 

...................... ii 

......................iii 

......................iii 

...................... iv 

.......................I 

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

.......................9 

...................... 13 

...................... 28 

...................... 32 

APPENDIX .......................... 33 
LIST OF TABLES 

Page 

1. World sea urchin landings by country, 1950-2001 ..... 3 

2. World landings of genus Strongylocentrotus and major 

species of sea urchins, 1950-2001 ............ 7 

3. World sea urchin landings by FA0 fishing area, 

1950-2001 ........................ 8 

4. Japan’s sea urchin landings by fishing area, 

1984-2001 ....................... 12 

5. Landings and peak Japanese fishing seasons for major sea 

urchin species in Hokkaido and major sea urchin fishing 

prefectures for 2001 .................. 12 

6. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins and sea 

urchin roe by product and volume, 1975-2002 ...... 15 

7. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins and sea 

urchin roe by product and value, 1975-2002 ....... 16 

8. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins and fresh 

sea urchin roe by country of origin and volume, 

1975-2002 ....................... 17 

9. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins and fresh 

sea urchin roe by country of origin and value, 

1975-2002 ....................... 19 

10. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins 

by country of origin and volume, 1998-2002 ....... 21 

11. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins by 

country of origin and value, 1998-2002 ......... 21 

12. Japanese annual imports of fresh sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and volume, 1998-2002 ....... 22 

13. Japanese annual imports of fresh sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and value, 1998-2002 ....... 22 

14. Japanese annual imports of frozen sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and volume, 1988-2002 ....... 23 

15. Japanese annual imports of frozen sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and value, 1988-2002 ....... 24 
LIST OF TABLES 

Page 

16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

20. 

21. 

22. 

Japanese annual imports of salted sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and volume, 1988-2002 ..... 

Japanese annual imports of salted sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and value, 1988-2002 ..... 

by country of origin and volume, 1995-2002 ..... 

by country of origin and value, 1995-2002 ..... 

Japanese annual imports of prepared sea urchin roe 

Japanese annual imports of prepared sea urchin roe 

Annual sales volume and average wholesale prices of 

fresh sea urchin roe at Tokyo ~ Central Wholksale Market, 

1986-2002 ....................... 

Monthly sales volume and average wholesale prices of 

fresh sea urchin roe at Tokyo Central Wholesale 

Market, 2 0 02 ...................... 

Daily auction prices of imported fresh sea urchin roe 

by origin at Tokyo Central Wholesale Market, 

and July 2003 

January 

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

25 

26 

27 

27 

30 

30 

31 

LIST OF FIGURES 

1. Major FA0 statistical fishing areas ........... 9 

2. Japan’s sea urchin landings, 1950-2002 ......... 10 

3. Japan’s fishing regions ................ 11 

APPENDIX 

1. Monthly and annual average exchange rate applied to 

Japanese imports, 1976-2002 .............. 33 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Sea urchins are harvested worldwide, the majority destined 

for the Japanese market. Japan is by far the world‘s largest 

importer and consumer of sea urchin roe. In 2002, Japan imported 

about 18,525 metric tons (mt) of live sea urchins and sea urchin 

roe valued at about 247 million dollars, an increase of more than 

ten-fold in volume and 12-fold in value from 1975. Much of this 

increase was due to good demand, decreased domestic harvest, and 

consequent rise in price for sea urchin roe. 

Fresh sea urchin roe was the dominant product imported into 

Japan, representing as much as 49 percent in value in 2002. The 

United States has become the largest supplier of fresh roe to 

Japan, providing over 45 percent in value and 39 percent in 

volume of the total. Differences in peak fishing seasons in 

Japan (spring through summer) and the United States (fall through 

spring) have benefitted U.S. exporters in marketing sea urchin 

roe to Japan. 

Japan was the world’s largest harvester of sea urchins until 

1984. Since 1987, Japanese harvests have declined steadily due 

mainly to declining stock abundance. The harvest in 2002 of 

13,000 mt was less than half of the record high landings which 

occurred in 1969. From 1987 to 2001, landings in the United 

States have exceeded Japanese landings. In 2001, sea urchins 

were harvested in six states: Alaska (1,166 mt), Washington 

(344 mt), Oregon (571 mt), California (5,951 mt), Maine 

(4,491 mt), and Rhode Island (0.1 mt). 

Most fresh sea urchin roe are sold through auction at the 

Tokyo Central Wholesale Market. Although quality of roe is the 

most important factor in determining prices, total supply 

(domestic and imported roe) is also significant. In 2002, the 

highest price for imported roe occurred in January. High prices 

for Japanese roe occurred in January and September, reflecting 

the low availability of roe during these months. 

Japan regulates imports of sea urchin products with import 

tariffs. As the United States and Japan are signatories to the 

World Trade Organization (WTO), WTO tariffs apply to U.S. exports 

of sea urchin products: 7 percent for fresh, frozen, or salted 

sea urchin roe, and 10 percent for prepared or preserved 

products, including those in airtight containers. There is no 

tariff for live sea urchins. Tariff rates are calculated as a 

percentage of total cost, including insurance and freight. 

Sea urchin roe shipped from Los Angeles is considered to be 

the best in Japan’s import market. The future market for sales 

of U.S. sea urchins to Japan depends to a large extent on 

Japanese sea urchin harvest. Because domestic harvest is not 

likely to increase in the short term, increased export of U.S. 

sea urchins and sea urchin roe has significant potential. 

-iv- 
INTRODUCTION 

Sea urchins belong to the phylum Echinodermata, which also 

includes starfish, sea cucumbers, sea lilies, and brittle stars 

(Kato and Schroeter 1985). Among this group, sea urchins are the 

most important commercially, although some sea cucumbers are also 

utilized for food. Sea urchins have been fished in Japan for 

their prized roe ever since primitive times (Saito 1992). 

Japan was once the world’s largest harvester and still 

remains the largest consumer of sea urchin roe. Since 1987, 

however, the Japanese harvest of sea urchins has declined 

significantly, and to fill the high demand, Japan has become 

increasingly dependent on imports. In 2002, about 88 percent of 

domestic consumption was supplied by imports (Minato Shinbun Sha 

2003). This need should remain because domestic harvest is not 

likely to increase in the short term (Hokkai Suisan Shinbun Sha 

1993). 

The United States has been the world‘s second largest 

harvesting nation of sea urchins since 1994 and was the largest 

supplier of fresh sea urchin roe to Japan in 2002. 

Japan is the most important export market for U.S. sea 

urchins, accounting for 86 percent in volume and 87 percent in 

value of U.S. exports of sea urchins and sea urchin roe in 2002 

(U.S. Department of Commerce 2003). 

This report provides a detailed examination of the world sea 

urchin fisheries, as well as Japan’s fishery, imports, and 

market. 

WORLD FISHERIES 

The total world harvest of sea urchins increased from 8,000 

mt in 1950 to a peak of 117,000 mt in 1995, but has been on a 

downward trend since then, falling to 87,000 mt in 2001 (Table 

1). The decrease in global landings was due to lower harvests in 

five major harvesting countries- Chile, the United States, Japan, 

Canada, and Mexico. Combined harvests by these countries 

declined 26 percent, from 108,130 mt in 1995 to 79,839 mt in 

2001. 

Of 29 nations that reported sea urchin landings in 2001, 

Chile ranked highest with 54 percent of the total. The United 

States was second with 14 percent, while Japan, the world’s 

largest producer during 1950-1984, was in third place. Japan’s 

share of the world catch decreased sharply from over 84 percent 

during the 1960s to 13 percent in 2001. Canada and Mexico 

-1- 
respectively harvested 8 and 3 percent of the world total. 

Russia, and the Republic of Korea each harvested about 2 percent 

of the world total. The combined catch of other countries 

accounted for about 2 percent of the total world catch. 

Peru, 

Chile’s annual harvest of sea urchins reached a high in 1999 

at 55,654 mt, but has since declined (Table 1). The catch in 

2001 of 46,794 mt was about 84 percent of its record landings. 

The U.S. commercial fishery for sea urchins was developed in 

the early 1970s in California with the goal of providing sea 

urchin roe for the large seafood market in Japan (Kato 1972). 

The major commercially valuable sea urchin species in the United 

States are the red (Strongylocentrous franciscanus) , purple (S. 

purpuratus) , and green (S. droebachiensis) sea urchins. Several 

other species also occur, but they are either too small or too 

rare to be of economic significance (Kato and Schroeter 1985). 

On the U.S. Pacific coast, all three species are commercially 

harvested, but the red sea urchin is by far the most important. 

On the Atlantic coast, only green sea urchins occur, and are 

commercially harvested. In 2001, sea urchins were harvested in 

six states: Alaska (1,166 mt), Washington (344 mt), Oregon (571 

mt), California (5,951 mt), Maine (4,491 mt), and Rhode Island 

(0.1 mt; U.S. Department of Commerce 2003). 

World landings of sea urchins are dominated by Loxechinus 

albus and Strongylocentrotus spp. (Table 2). Between 1991 and 

2001 Loxechinus albus accounted for 24 to 55 percent of total 

global landings of sea urchin species, and Strongylocentrotus 

spp, 38 to 68 percent. 

The majority of world landings of sea urchins from 1992 

through 2001 occurred in the southeast Pacific Ocean (29 to 57 

percent), followed by the northwest Pacific Ocean (16 to 23 

percent; Table 3 and Figure 1). 

-2- 
Table 1. World sea urchin landings by country, 1950-2001 

(metric tons). 

Russian Korea 

Year Chile U.S.A. Japan Canada Mexico Peru Fed. Rep. of 

1950 

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 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

1,600 

2,300 

1,700 

1,400 

2,600 

3,700 

3,900 

3,600 

4,000 

3,700 

2,100 

2,200 

2,700 

2,800 

3,300 

2,500 

2,600 

2,900 

3,700 

3,800 

3,200 

4,200 

4 , 200 

2,500 

1,206 

2,105 

9,809 

8,517 

6,925 

13,206 

13,649 

15,502 

12,159 

11,826 

16,154 

30,577 

25,408 

24,574 

22,953 

25,527 

15, 648 

21,382 

29,197 

31,300 

39,705 

54 , 609 

51,437 

45,560 

44 , 843 

55 , 654 

54 , 096 

46,794 

15 

25 

33 

13 

25 

26 

54 

46 

29 

49 

50 

34 

33 

38 

55 

57 

65 

50 

38 

37 

27 

25 

58 

1, 698 

3,245 

3,452 

5,754 

7,527 

6,290 

9,781 

10,090 

12,114 

8,910 

8,241 

7,056 

9,426 

16,616 

23,753 

31,898 

34,444 

32,791 

33,589 

30,381 

34 , 142 

30,381 

27 , 162 

21,856 

20,848 

13,670 

15,379 

14 , 700 

12,522 

6,000 

6,000 

7,000 

7,200 

6,500 

9,100 

14,077 

9,225 

12,288 

13,973 

15,871 

15,865 

16,477 

19,302 

20,655 

20,722 

23,219 

23,362 

26,977 

27,528 

27,177 

25,434 

22,686 

26,004 

23,573 

22,482 

23,069 

26,898 

25,930 

26,500 

24,158 

23,984 

25,975 

25,254 

23,962 

22,745 

23,072 

22,760 

21,812 

20,414 

19,398 

14 , 136 

13,889 

13,713 

15,525 

13,735 

12,996 

14,297 

13,653 

13,530 

12,455 

11,208 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

47 

- 

- 

3 

5 

7 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

47 

2,622 

3,298 

3,748 

7,877 

14,640 

8,255 

8,479 

9,833 

9,665 

9,221 

9,867 

9,052 

8,012 

7,063 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

0 

12 

16 

9 

15 

18 

21 

30 

20 

17 

22 

211 

31 

33 

32 

15 

21 

4,284 

2,655 

2,437 

2,817 

3,421 

2,791 

3,027 

2,099 

1,138 

2,042 

2,813 

2,252 

0** 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

100 

100 

300 

300 

200 

400 

700 

600 

1,000 

3,400 

2,000 

1,900 

2,700 

3,393 

2,321 

3,497 

4,119 

2,969 

2,720 

3,383 

5,212 

5,566 

5,413 

4,934 

6,222 

7,785 

5,278 

4,291 

3,633 

4,325 

3,749 

2,476 

3,944 

3,714 

3,707 

2,802 

2,771 

1,410 

1,182 

1,461 

1,454 

-3- 

-u ---- --- 
Table 1 (continued). World sea urchin landings by country, 

1950-2001 (metric tons). 

New Korea, Fiji 

Year Zealand Spain China Philippine France North Islands Taiwan 

1950 

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 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

- 

- 

- 83 

149 

131 

209 

125 

152 

77 

138 

280 

325 

286 

295 

314 

4 13 

7 97 

583 

322 

869 

848 

94 4 

804 

277 487 

627 590 

832 560 

64 3 62 1 

712 309 

853 306 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

3 

3 

60 

38 

6 

315 

88 

48 

101 

38 

62 

29 

26 

52 

48 

62 

40 

74 

151 

4 66 

452 

2 96 

161 

143 

.125 

127 

- 

- 

- 

- 

100 

100 

100 

300 

100 

200 

100 

100 

100 

100 

300 

300 

300 

200 

200 

200 

200 

100 

0 

0 

502 

4 17 

335 

233 

308 

312 

373 

422 

445 

200 

229 

454 

278 

213 

248 

285 

301 

218 

401 

257 

159 

78 

63 

48 

59 

84 

198 

101 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

0 

300 

0 

0 

58 

140 

88 

74 

19 

54 

19 

39 

212 

45 

78 

35 

35 

35 

3 

4 

12 

37 

134 

123 

65 

31 

51 

63 

59 

61 

39 

33 

41 

50 

- 

- 

-4- 
Table 1 (continued). World sea urchin landings by country, 

1950-2001 (metric tons). 

Cook French 

Year Islands Polynesia Portugal Martinique Ireland U.S.S.R. Iceland Grenada 

1950 

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 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

L 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

23 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

28 

29 

30 

28 

25 

26 

25 

25 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

20 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

300 

242 

209 

352 

170 

114 

132 

108 

102 

97 

48 

113 

77 

49 

52 

64 

62 

95 

104 

89 

26 

34 

10 

2 

5 

1 

2 

1 

5 

-5- 

I . . -. 
Table 1 (continued). World sea urchin landings by country, 

1950-2001 (metric tons). 

St. Pierre & Faeroe United World 

Year Equador Miquelon Denmark Islands Kingdom Total 

- - - - - 8,015 

- - - - 8,625 

1950 

- - - - - 8,733 

1951 

- - - - - 8,613 

1952 

- - - - - 9,225 

1953 

13,126 

1954 

18,231 

1955 

- - - - - 13,271 

1956 

16,517 

1957 

- - - - - 18,022 

1958 

18,221 

1959 

- - - - 18,499 

1960 

19,610 

1961 

- - - - - 22,840 

1962 

24,610 

1963 

- - - - - 23,779 

1964 

- - - - - 26,584 

1965 

- - - - - 27,512 

1966 

- - - - - 31,515 

1967 

32 , 565 

1968 

- 34 , 092 

1969 

- - - - - 31,929 

1970 

- - - - - 28,962 

1971 

- - - - - 33,306 

1972 

- - - - - 32,269 

1973 

- - - - 31,169 

1974 

- - - - - 43,026 

1975 

- - - - - 47, 685 

1976 

- - - - - 43,057 

1977 

- - - - - 52,905 

1978 

- - - - - 52,055 

1979 

- - - - - 57,806 

1980 

1981 

- - - - - 52,225 

1982 

- - - 53,585 

- - - 70,423 

0 

1983 

1984 

80,450 

0 

0 

83,590 

0 

1985 

0 

89,380 

0 

1986 

- - 93,532 

0 0 

1987 

0 

- - 87,657 

0 

1988 

1989 

0 

- - 90,201 

0 1990 - 

- - 100, 673 

1991 1 0 0 

- - 98,895 

1992 1 0 

0 0 

- 106,453 

1993 0 

117,046 

1994 0 0 0 14 

- 1 106,037 

1995 0 1 0 

1996 0 1 0 

- 0 - 0 98,510 

88,331 

1997 0 

1998 0 0 

1 101,270 

- 98,661 

1999 0 

0 

87,068 

2000 0 0 

2001 0 0 0 

- 

- - - - - - - - - - 

- - - - - 

- - - - - - 

- - - - - 

- - - - - 

- - - - - - - - - 

- 

- - - - - 53,757 

- 

- - 

- 

- - - 

- - - 

- 

- 

- 

- - 

- - - - - - 

- 

- - 

-* ...... magnitude known to be nil or zero 

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

Sources: FA0 2003 

U.S. Department of Commerce 2003 

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, 1967-2003 

-6- 
Table 2. World sea urchin landings of genus Strongylocentrotus 

and major species of sea urchins, 1950-2001 

(metric tons). 

1950 

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 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

1,600 

2,300 

1,700 

1,400 

2,600 

3,700 

3,900 

3,600 

4,000 

3,700 

2,100 

2,200 

2,700 

2,800 

3,300 

2,500 

2,600 

2,900 

3,700 

3,800 

3,200 

4,200 

4,200 

2,500 

1,206 

2,105 

9,809 

8,517 

6,925 

13,206 

13,649 

15,502 

12,159 

11,826 

16,154 

30,577 

25,408 

24,574 

22,953 

25,527 

15,648 

21,382 

29,197 

31,300 

39,705 

54 , 609 

51,437 

45,560 

44,843 

55,654 

54,096 

46,794 

6,415 

6,325 

7,033 

7,213 

6,525 

9,326 

14,254 

9,346 

12,429 

14,149 

16,050 

16,034 

16,733 

19,638 

20,755 

20,757 

23,265 

23,750 

27,038 

27 , 537 

27,194 

25,231 

21,800 

23,129 

21,878 

19,705 

20,502 

26,104 

28,875 

28,843 

18,563 

17,573 

26,982 

25,610 

31,464 

32,291 

44,735 

52,900 

60,087 

58,267 

58,316 

60,885 

64 , 608 

57 , 204 

55,838 

53,354 

45,583 

45,724 

39,344 

39,656 

36,744 

33,097 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

- 

- ** 

- 

- co.5 

100 

100 

300 

300 

200 

400 

700 

600 

1,000 

3,400 

2,000 

1,900 

2,700 

3,405 

2,420 

3,655 

4,265 

3,196 

2,866 

3,565 

5,309 

5,721 

5,715 

5,470 

6,539 

8,113 

5,624 

4,719 

4,451 

9,232 

6,745 

5,845 

7,622 

8,094 

7,433 

7,054 

6,521 

4,040 

5,702 

6,936 

7,009 

* 

100 

100 

100 

300 

100 

200 

100 

100 

100 

100 

300 

300 

300 

200 

200 

200 

200 

100 

<0.5 

<0.5 

502 

417 

335 

233 

308 

312 

373 

422 

445 

200 

22 9 

454 

278 

213 

248 

285 

301 

218 

401 

257 

159 

78 

63 

48 

59 

84 

198 

101 

- 

- 

- 

300 

242 

209 

352 

170 

114 

132 

108 

102 

97 

48 

113 

77 

49 

52 

64 

62 

95 

104 

89 

739 

1,443 

933 

425 

25 

1 

13 

1 

5 

Loxechinus albus ... Chilean sea urchin 

Paracentrotus lividus.. .Stony sea urchin 

Echinus esculentus ... European edible sea urchin 

.*.... data not available 

-**.. magnitude known to be nil or zero 

Source: FA0 2003 

-7- 
Table 3. World sea urchin landings by FA0 fishing area, 

1950-2001 (metric tons). 

Atlantic ocean Mediterranean Pacific Ocean 

Year and Black Sea 

(27) * (21) (31) (37) (77) (67) (61) (87) (El) (71) 

1950 

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 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

100 

100 

100 

300 

100 

200 

100 

100 

100 

100 

300 

300 

300 

200 

200 

200 

200 

100 

<0.5 

300 

274 

241 

376 

187 

128 

141 

130 

128 

120 

63 

133 

127 

62 

77 

123 

110 

144 

121 

100 

756 

1,414 

940 

911 

612 

564 

643 

4 62 

478 

** 15 

25 

33 

13 

25 

26 

54 

46 

29 

49 

50 

34 

33 

38 

55 

57 

65 

50 

38 

37 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

100 

68 

19 

16 

29 

4 

6 

22 

3 

- 

- 

23 

5 

700 

2,885 

4,355 

6,136 

9,637 

12,623 

20,390 

18,763 

17,726 

13,851 

12,201 

10,720 

10,794 

9,131 

7,274 

- 

- *** 

- 

<0.5 

<0.5 

1 

3 

2 

1 

2 

2 

2 

- 

- 

1 

2 

2 

6 

23 

26 

25 

29 

18 

26 

29 

53 

15 

10 

15 

15 

15 

10 

10 

- 

- 

- 

- 

470 

385 

311 

216 

294 

303 

351 

396 

422 

185 

209 

404 

2 65 

188 

189 

237 

253 

201 

390 

240 

142 

71 

65 

51 

56 

75 

195 

100 

30 

30 

30 

1,630 

3,258 

3,476 

5,041 

6,225 

7,996 

7,201 

49 

42 

7,871 

7,212 

6,901 

8,644 

13,576 

17,981 

19,220 

15,093 

19,457 

18,230 

14,677 

11,919 

12,845 

12,807 

12,158 

10,321 

5,860 

8,447 

8,902 

8,158 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

<0.5 

7 

735 

387 

448 

359 

27 

122 

108 

137 

211 

352 

1,222 

4,951 

11,146 

13,403 

11,191 

15,415 

19,643 

11,150 

9,482 

8,640 

7,085 

9,044 

8,081 

7,101 

6,841 

6,378 

- 

6,400 

6,300 

7,000 

7,200 

6,500 

9,300 

14,200 

9,300 

12,400 

14,100 

16,000 

16,100 

16,800 

19,900 

21,000 

20,900 

23,600 

24,400 

27,600 

28,500 

30,564 

27,201 

23,670 

24,099 

21,949 

18,544 

18,211 

23,593 

23,352 

23,978 

21,870 

22,322 

24,496 

23,645 

29,367 

29,481 

37,652 

34,518 

31,080 

28,984 

30,052 

23,915 

22,497 

20,348 

21,609 

20,139 

17,815 

18,632 

16,962 

16,290 

15,785 

14,624 

1,600 

2,300 

1,700 

1,400 

2,600 

3,700 

3,900 

3,600 

4,000 

3,700 

2,100 

2,200 

2,700 

2,800 

3,300 

2,500 

2,600 

2,900 

3,700 

3,800 

3,200 

4,200 

4,200 

2,500 

1,206 

2,105 

9,809 

8,517 

6,925 

13,206 

13,649 

15,502 

12,159 

11,826 

16,154 

30,577 

25,408 

24,574 

22,953 

25,527 

15,687 

21,402 

29,261 

31,313 

39,720 

54,740 

51,898 

45,984 

44,933 

56,858 

55,722 

48,908 

8; 

149 

131 

209 

125 

152 

77 

138 

280 

325 

286 

295 

314 

413 

797 

583 

322 

869 

848 

944 

804 

277 

627 

832 

643 

712 

853 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

3 

3 

60 

38 

6 

316 

90 

50 

105 

65 

92 

37 

36 

61 

60 

73 

54 

129 

207 

525 

4 92 

391 

264 

243 

215 

223 

*...numbers refer to FA0 fishing areas (see Figure 1) 

27=Atlantic, Northeast; 21=Atlantic, Northwest; 

31=Atlantic, Western Central; 

77=Pacific, Eastern Central; 67=Pacific, Northeast; 

61=Pacific, Northwest; 87=Pacific, Southeast; 

81=Pacific, Southwest; 71=Pacific, Western Central 

.**... data not available 

-***...magnitude known to be nil or zero 

Source: FA0 2003 

-a- 
Figure 1. Major FA0 statistical fishing areas. 

Source: FA0 2002 

JAPANESE FISHERY 

Japan was the world's largest harvester of sea urchins until 

1984, but its share of the world catch has decreased sharply. 

The peak year of Japanese sea urchin harvest was 1969 when 27,528 

mt were harvested (Table 1 and Figure 2). From 1970 through 

1986, annual Japanese landings fluctuated between 22,000 and 

27,000 mt. Since 1987, the Japanese harvest has steadily 

decreased due largely to declining stock abundance (Hokkai Suisan 

Shinbun Sha 1993). The total harvest in 2002 of 13,000 mt was 

less than half of the record landings. 

From 1984 through 2001, the majority of Japan's harvest of 

sea urchins occurred in the Hokkaido region (34 to 50 percent; 

Table 4 and Figure 3), followed by North Pacific Ocean region (16 

to 29 percent), and the East China Sea region (16 to 28 percent). 

Between 84 and 90 percent of sea urchin landings occurred in 

these three regions. Landings in these three regions decreased 

by 53 percent from 20,665 mt in 1984 to 9,809 mt in 2001, while 

landings in Hokkaido Island region decreased by 48 percent during 

the same period. In 2001, about 76 percent of sea urchin 

landings occurred in Hokkaido Island and four prefectures (Table 

5 and Figure 3). Peak fishing seasons in these areas are mainly 

from spring through summer. 

-9- 
30,000 I 

25,000 

20,000 

t; 15,000 

m 

c 

0 

.- 

c L

Q) 

= 10,000 

5,000 

0 

Figure 2. Japan's sea urchin landings, 1950-2002. 

Sources: FA0 2003 

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and 

Fisheries, 1967-2003 

Suisan Tsushin Sha 2003 

Six species of sea urchins are commercially harvested in 

Japan (Hokkai Suisan Shinbun Sha 1993). The two major species, 

found in northern Japanese waters, are Strongylocentrotus 

intermedius and S. nudus. They represent about 80 percent of 

the total Japanese harvest of sea urchins. Four species 

harvested in southern Japanese waters are Strongylocentrotus 

pulcherrimus, Anthocidaris crassispina, Pseudocentrotus 

depressus, and Tripneustes gratilla. 

Sea urchin resources in Japan are managed through limits on 

minimum size, harvest area, and season. The regulations are 

developed by local fishery cooperatives as well as local 

governments. Management plans put in place by fishery 

cooperatives stress economic returns and are usually stricter 

than those enacted by local governments. Artificial propagation 

is being carried out, but ongoing resource enhancement efforts 

relying on mariculture have yet to show visible results in 

increased landings (Hokkai Suisan Shinbun Sha 1993 and Ministry 

of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries 2003). 

-10- 
Figure 3. Japan's fishing regions. 

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, 2003 

-11- 
Table 4. Japan's sea urchin landings by fishing area, 1984-2001 

(metric tons). 

Pacific Ocean Sea of JaDan East Set0 

Year Hokkaido North Central South North West China Sea Inland Sea Total 

1984 

1985 

1986 

1987 

1988 

1989 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

10,017 

10,094 

10,655 

10,753 

10,955 

9,430 

7,760 

5,493 

5,594 

5,163 

6,492 

4,686 

4,749 

5,713 

6,541 

5,921 

5,890 

5,233 

3,875 

4,600 

5,176 

4,234 

4,175 

4,941 

3,396 

3,120 

3,216 

4,018 

3,590 

2,951 

3,532 

2,978 

3,885 

3,069 

2,536 

4,905 

18 94 1 106 

19 92 8 148 

18 1,092 223 

21 931 225 

18 1,318 245 

8 1,193 298 

16 1,098 210 

14 9 97 132 

17 1,013 154 

31 67 6 138 

44 720 142 

33 846 111 

34 900 103 

26 845 194 

30 530 89 

31 458 151 

27 4 94 64 

29 451 35 

1,447 

985 

879 

67 9 

687 

806 

689 

503 

576 

669 

685 

620 

663 

647 

62 4 

518 

545 

574 

6,773 

5,085 

5,029 

4,450 

3,155 

4,032 

4,039 

3,138 

3,074 

3,455 

3,091 

3,439 

3,162 

2,884 

2,422 

2,198 

2,034 

2,040 

785 

581 

576 

519 

580 

472 

665 

4 64 

343 

3 65 

333 

410 

436 

455 

438 

363 

332 

309 

23,962 

22,745 

23,076 

22,760 

21,812 

20,414 

19,398 

14,136 

13,889 

13,713 

15,525 

13,735 

12,996 

14,297 

13,653 

13,530 

12,455 

11,208 

Total may not add due to rounding of data 

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 

1986-2003. 

Table 5. Landings and peak Japanese fishing seasons for major 

sea urchin species in Hokkaido and major sea urchin 

fishing prefectures for 2001. 

Landinss Peak fishing 

Area (metric tons) (%) Major species seasons 

Hokkaido 

Prefectures: 

Iwate 

Nagasaki 

Aomor i 

Mi yagi 

Others 

5,233 47 Strongylocen trotus intermedius 

S. nudus 

1,062 9 S. intermedius 

S. nudus 

843 8 An thocidaris crassispina 

778 7 S. intermedius 

S. nudus 

642 6 S. nudus 

2,650 24 

April-August 

June-September 

April-August 

April-August 

March-Ma y 

April-August 

April-August 

April-August 

Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2003 

Hokkai Suisan Shinbun Sha 1993 

-12- 
IMPORTS 

Japan is the world's largest importer of sea urchins and sea 

urchin roe. In 2002, Japan's imports of fresh, frozen, salted, 

and prepared sea urchin roe, and live sea urchins were 18,525 mt 

valued at about $247 million (Tables 6 and 7). From 1975 to 

2002, imports of sea urchins and sea urchin roe increased more 

than ten times in volume and 12 times in value. The number of 

countries supplying sea urchins and sea urchin roe to Japan also 

increased from 11 in 1975 to 15 in 2002 (Tables 8-19). Much of 

this increase was due to good demand, a strong yen (Appendix l), 

decreased domestic harvest, and consequent rise in price for sea 

urchin roe. 

In 2002, fresh roe was the dominant sea urchin product 

imported into Japan, representing as much as 49 percent in value 

and 16 percent in volume. Live sea urchins accounted for 23 

percent in value and 64 percent in volume. Although total 

tonnage of live sea urchins is greater than fresh roe, it should 

be noted that the edible roe makes up only about 10-15 percent of 

the total live weight. Imports of frozen roe were 19 percent in 

value and 14 percent in volume, followed by prepared roe with 6 

percent in value and 4 percent in volume. Imports of salted sea 

urchin roe were minor, with 3 percent in value and 1 percent in 

volume in 2002 (Tables 6 and 7). 

Japanese imports of live sea urchins increased 80 percent in 

volume and 43 percent in value from 1998 to 2002. 

came mostly from Russia, with lesser quantities imported from 

North Korea, the United States, Canada, and China (Tables 10 and 

11). Supplies of live sea urchins from Russia increased in 2002 

to a record level, while shipments of this product from North 

Korea, the United States and Canada decreased sharply. 

The products 

Imports of fresh sea urchin roe increased somewhat from 

3,844 mt in 1998 to 3,997 mt in 1999, but have since shown a 

downward trend (Tables 12 and 13). The United States has 

consistently been the leading supplier of fresh roe to Japan, 

providing over 39 percent in volume and 45 percent in value of 

the total in 2002. 

Imports of frozen sea urchin roe rose from 760 mt in 1988 to 

2,535 mt in 2002 (Table 14). Since 1993, Chile has replaced the 

United States as the leading supplier of this product to Japan 

(Tables 14 and 15). Japan imported 69 mt of frozen roe from the 

United States in 2002, while imports from Chile amounted to 2,295 

mt. 

Imports of salted sea urchin roe have declined steeply since 

1988 (Tables 16 and 17). The Republic of Korea and North Korea 

have been the dominant suppliers of salted products to Japan. 

-13- 
These two nations supplied Japan with as much as 81 percent in 

volume and 92 percent in value of salted products in 2002. 

Imports of prepared sea urchin roe have remained fairly 

stable since 1996, ranging between 631 and 787 mt (Tables 18). 

Chile continued to dominate the supplies of prepared sea urchin 

roe (Tables 18 and 19). 

Japan regulates imports of fishery products with import 

quotas (IQ) and tariffs. Over the years, Japan has relaxed its 

IQ, and reduced trade barriers through multilateral and bilateral 

negotiations. Tariffs have been gradually cut by about one-third 

from those of 1995 on a number of fishery products. 

Sea urchin products imported into Japan are subject to 

tariffs, but not IQ. As the United States and Japan are 

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

apply to U.S. exports of sea urchin products: 7 percent for 

fresh, frozen, or salted sea urchin roe, and 10 percent for 

prepared or preserved products, including those in airtight 

containers. There is no tariff for live sea urchins (Japan Fish 

Traders Association 2003). Tariff rates are calculated as a 

percentage of total cost, including insurance and freight. 

-14- 
Table 6. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins and sea 

urchin roe by products and volume, 1975-2002 

(metric tons). 

Year Live Fresh Live/fresh Frozen Salted Prepared Total 

sea urchins roe Sub-total roe roe roe 

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 

2001 

2002 

* 

6,630 3,844 

7,077 3,997 

7,897 3,779 

11,155 3,444 

11,926 3,033 

1,684 

1,874 

2,458 

2,315 

2,502 

2,207 

2,426 

2,397 

2,321 

2,636 

2,857 

3,601 

3,696 

2,643 

3,140 

2,882 

3,151 

3,367 

3,954 

4,630 

5,017 

4,756 

4,337 

10,474 

11,074 

11,676 

14,599 

14 , 959 

-* * - 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

7 60 

716 

653 

832 

876 

94 8 

716 

1,122 

1,005 

1,028 

1,421 

1,526 

1,652 

1,690 

2,535 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1,248 

98 9 

1,075 

709 

750 

789 

784 

696 

542 

455 

514 

37 1 

446 

319 

255 

95 

17 1 

68 

192 

328 

279 

4 15 

32 9 

4 30 

496 

714 

67 5 

458 

882 

95 6 

62 5 

730 

994 

837 

875 

903 

787 

7 02 

631 

729 

767 

720 

776 

1,779 

2,045 

2,526 

2,507 

2,830 

2,486 

2,841 

2,726 

2,751 

3,132 

3,571 

4,276 

4,154 

5,533 

5,801 

5,235 

5,422 

5,987 

6,528 

7,005 

7,738 

7,090 

6,522 

13,040 

13,700 

14,541 

17,328 

18,525 

* not available 

-** no imports 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1976-2003 

-15- 

- ._I I_- 
Table 7. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins and sea 

urchin roe by products and value, 1975-2002 

(U.S. $1,000) * 

Year Live Fresh Live/€resh Frozen Salted Prepared Total 

sea urchins roe Sub-t ot a1 roe roe roe 

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 

2001 

2002 

* 

39,524 163,049 

41,278 179,671 

48,009 176,395 

57,657 150,002 

56,618 121,303 

10,253 

14,404 

20,496 

23,935 

30,495 

28,390 

34,105 

32,268 

34,418 

43,127 

45,448 

74 , 252 

99,284 

106,450 

112,488 

113,380 

142,566 

155,229 

185,814 

224,729 

265,450 

232,168 

196,286 

202,573 

220,949 

224,404 

207, 659 

177,921 

-** - 9,964 

- - 1,484 

665 - - 1,362 

2,304 

- - 1,996 

- - 2,919 - - 2,364 

- 2,988 

- - 3,350 

- - 5,151 

- - 6,079 

- - 4,623 

10,867 23,141 10,310 

9,291 15,816 12,812 

8,713 15, 914 7,721 

12,190 14,603 9,541 

11,033 17,593 14 , 422 

15,564 15,071 13,060 

10,780 15,235 14,497 

21,747 14,885 17,536 

18,553 12,997 15,568 

17,633 10,114 14 , 257 

22,338 10,386 9,427 

24,647 9,997 11,518 

30,091 12,433 14 , 055 

27,908 9,217 11,144 

45,857 7,292 15,398 

- - 

- - 

- 

20,217 

15,888 

21,161 

25,297 

32,799 

30,386 

37,024 

34,632 

37,406 

46,477 

50,599 

80,331 

103,907 

150,768 

150,407 

145,728 

178,900 

198,277 

229,509 

265,241 

319,618 

279,286 

238,290 

244,724 

267,111 

280,983 

255,928 

246,468 

* not available 

-** no imports 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1976-2003 

-16- 
Table 8. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins and fresh 

sea urchin roe by country of origin and volume, 

1975-2002 (metric tons). 

origin 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 

U.S. S. R. 

U.S.A. 

Korea, North 

Chile 

Canada 

China 

Mexico 

Korea, Rep. 

Peru 

Hong Kong 

Aus t r a 1 i a 

Philippines 

Norway 

Taiwan 

3 

232 

358 

-* 2 0 ** 

759 

443 

2 

5 90 

4 92 

357 

266 

85 

511 

245 

305 

486 

193 

637 

322 

238 

15 

9 248 

0 

57 

45 

1,038 

370 

20 

35 

26 

743 

89 

5 27 

5 13 

82 

98 5 

15 

36 

1,137 

87 

14 

807 

16 

15 

0 

2 

135 

15 

977 

21 

7 

54 

966 

22 

9 

- 

10 

0 

170 

28 

- 

- 

17 

7 

111 

1 

110 

4 

19 

0 

51 

- 

3 

53 

- - 66 

Total 1,684 1,874 2,458 2,315 2,502 2,207 2,426 

Country of 

origin 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 

U.S.S.R./Russia 0 1 2 0 

U.S.A. 4 91 4 11 539 888 1,243 1,564 1,305 

Korea, North 4 07 243 322 258 239 252 4 

Chile 59 85 155 182 2 63 122 17 

Canada 24 69 132 148 176 190 406 

China 147 175 158 145 225 194 2 

Mexico 5 4 32 19 98 125 4 

1,158 1,110 848 

1 

Korea, Rep. 1,100 1,236 1,219 1,091 

Peru 14 2 

26 57 44 47 

14 7 3 

Hong Kong 12 10 15 

Aus t r a 1 i a 

Taiwan 118 60 37 55 61 18 

Philippines 14 25 23 37 65 

Norway - New Zealand - - - 0 Malaysia - - 0 0 Turkey - - - Indonesia 1 1 8 - 

- - - 

- - - - 

- - - - - 

- - - 79 - - - - 2 - - - - - - - 

- - - 0 

- 

Total 2,397 2,321 2,636 2,857 3,601 3,696 2,643 
Table 8 (continued). Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins 

and fresh sea urchin roe by country of origin and volume, 

1975-2002 (metric tons). 

Country of 

origin 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Russia - - - 

U.S.A. 1855 1,745 2,046 2,032 2,587 3,129 3,373 Korea, North 7 12 17 1 19 

Chile 5 11 44 47 147 285 364 

Canada 440 351 3 97 555 3 67 387 439 

China 7 19 60 129 223 258 238 

Mexico 80 73 25 13 1 - - 541 440 386 

3 89 Korea, Rep. 692 616 513 

Peru 1 1 

Hong Kong 50 44 42 44 35 38 48 5 3 3 0 

1 0 

Aus t ra 1 i a 4 7 6 Taiwan - 0 

1 1 1 

0 3 

Philippines - 0 1 

0 

Norway - - 1 0 

Indonesia - - 0 

1 2 0 3 

1 44 83 54 

New Zealand 2 2 

Iceland - 

Switzerland - 0 

Guyana 0 

Spain 1 Denmark - - Singapore - - 

10 3 0 - 

- - 

- 

529 - - 

- - - 

- - - 

- - 

- - - - 

- - _. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 

0 - - - - 

Total 3,140 2,882 3,151 3,367 3,954 4,630 5,017 

country 01 

origin 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Russia - - 3,451 4,378 6,190 9,079 10,613 

U.S.A. 3,122 2,462 3,114 2,995 2,626 2,223 1,616 

Korea, North 8 22 1,446 1319 740 1,330 917 

Chile 459 732 67 1 787 751 67 5 693 

Canada 441 487 1,035 912 739 67 6 5 60 

China 209 2 95 357 328 2 67 101 

38 9 330 

Mexico 0 

Korea, Rep. 365 2 66 342 230 196 169 100 

Peru 80 19 5 15 52 86 64 

Hong Kong 50 48 33 32 43 30 25 

Aus t r a 1 i a 1 1 3 3 4 1 2 1 

1 Philippines 2 2 

S. Africa - 

Norway 1 15 11 Indonesia - 0 

New Zealand - 0 

0 

Iceland 19 1 Vietnam - Palau - 0 

Came r oun - - 

- 1 - - - 

2 - 

5 

- - - 3 

0 

- 3 

- - 

- 2 

0 

- - - 

- 

- - - - - 

- - - - - - - - - - - - 

- 0 - - - - - 

Total 4,756 4,337 10,474 11,074 11,676 14,599 14,959 

-* ... no imports 0** ... more than zero but less than 0.5 metric tons 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1976-2003 

-18- 
Table 9. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins and fresh 

sea urchin roe by country of origin and value, 

1975-2002 (U. S. $1,000) . 

Country of 

oriain 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 

U.S.A. 

U. S. S. R. 

Chile 

Canada 

Korea, Nort 

China 

Mexico 

Korea, Rep. 

Peru 

Hong Kong 

Aus t r a 1 i a 

Taiwan 

Philippines 

Norway 

.h 

2,528 

25 

45 

31 

998 

13 

4 93 

5,907 

28 

178 

8 

- 

- 

- 

4,049 

382 

- 

- 

1,007 

36 

781 

7,825 - 

135 

118 

71 - 

5,936 

1,397 

- 

- 

1,641 

66 

375 

10,442 

187 

4 

128 

322 

- 

- 

6,276 

19 

1,279 

4 

1,435 

2 92 

573 

12,878 

254 - 

11,131 

4 

2,123 

2 62 

2,607 

215 

340 

13,098 

14 6 

222 

48 

220 

72 

18 

9,993 

38 

67 4 

403 

2,609 

630 

191 

13,080 

110 

358 

1 

2 97 

5 

9 

12,088 

23 

2,115 

274 

1,593 

783 

225 

16,321 

175 

230 

2 65 

12 

- 

~____~ 

Total 10,253 14,404 20,496 23,935 30,495 28,390 34,105 

Country of 

oriain 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 

U.S.A. 9,426 8,671 10,516 15,917 26,529 40,208 46,697 

U.S.S.R./Russia 9 17 42 2 

Chile 2 93 500 92 1 1,119 1,704 933 229 

Canada 442 1,198 2,238 2,337 3,501 4,195 9,841 

Korea, North 2,135 1,414 2,086 1,809 1,997 2,368 14 

China 827 983 853 838 1,883 1,994 29 

Mexico 56 44 376 160 1,532 2,275 110 

Korea, Rep 17,951 20,890 25,427 22,352 35,447 45,279 47,575 

Peru 95 12 7 

418 7 93 1,266 1,690 

- 95 364 228 

Hong Kong 338 272 348 

Aus t r a 1 i a 

Taiwan 636 309 214 347 424 129 

Philippines 61 134 345 272 

18 9 

107 93 Norway - 

New Zealand - - - 2 

2 

2 

Malaysia 8 - - 

Turkey - - - 

Indonesia - 2 3 8 

- - - 

- - - - 

- - - - 

- 

- 

30 - 

- - - - 

- - - - - - - - - 

Total 32,268 34,418 43,127 45,448 74,252 99,284 106,450 

-19- 

-- 
Table 9 (continued). Japanese annual imports of live sea 

urchins and fresh sea urchin roe by country of origin 

and value, 1975-2002 (U.S. $1,000). 

Country of 

origin 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

U.S.A. 

Russia 

Chile 

Canada 

Korea, North 

China 

Mexico 

Korea, Rep. 

Peru 

Hong Kong 

Aus t r a 1 i a 

Taiwan 

Philippines 

Norway 

Indonesia 

New Zealand 

Iceland 

Switzerland 

Guyana 

Spain 

Denmark 

Singapore 

Total 

Country of 

origin 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

U.S.A. 

Russia 

Chile 

Canada 

Korea, North 

China 

Mexico 

Korea, Rep. 

Peru 

Hong Kong Australia 

Philippines 

S. Africa 

Norway 

Indonesia 

New Zealand 

Iceland 

Vietnam 

Palau 

Came r oun 

156,236 - 

14 , 004 

21,311 

202 

9,672 

3 

23,946 

2.363 

3; 467 

47 

57 

120,449 

23,761 

20,953 

357 

12,618 

14 , 514 

591 

2,908 

24 

80 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

11 

19 - 

- 

- 

99,092 

19,172 

21,412 

23,606 

7,492 

13.636 

83 

15,731 

135 

1,917 

123 

72 - 

95 

4 

110,511 

22; 657 

27 , 255 

22,678 

8,897 

15,018 - 11,140 

413 

2,010 

190 

48 

118 

4 

5 

6 

- 

- 

- 

- 

107 , 059 

33,164 

26,325 

22,399 

9,511 

12,088 - 9.299 

1; 621 

2,642 

180 

58 

85,395 

43,022 

22.804 

19; 692 

15.391 

10; 128 - 

6, 979 

2,519 

1.630 

73 

19 

2 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2 

58,544 

47,306 

22,216 

16, 961 

12,406 

7,414 

5,602 

4,166 

2,113 

1.024 

’ 115 

43 

Total 232,168 196,286 202,573 220,949 224,404 207,659 177,921 

-* ... no imports 0** ... more than zero but less than 0.5 metric tons 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1976-2003 

-20- 
Table 10. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins 

by country of origin and volume, 1998-2002 

(metric tons). 

Country of 

origin 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Russia 

Korea, North 

U.S.A. 

Canada 

China 

Norway 

Indonesia 

U.K. 

New Zealand 

3,451 4,376 6,186 9,076 10,597 

1,389 1,255 666 1,156 735 

1,223 961 772 654 431 

557 4 67 268 254 158 

4 7 1 14 6 

7 10 4 1 

O* 0 

0 

- - - - - - - - -** - - 0 - 

Total 6,630 7,077 7,897 11,155 11,926 

O* ..... more than zero but less than 0.5 metric tons 

-** ... no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1999-2003 

Table 11. Japanese annual imports of live sea urchins by 

country of origin and value, 1998-2002 

(U.S. $1,000). 

Country of 

origin 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Russia 

Korea, North 

U.S.A. 

Canada 

China 

Norway 

Indonesia 

U.K. 

New Zealand 

19,172 

6,161 

9,672 

4,410 

47 

55 

4 

3 -* 

22,606 

6,770 

7,919 

3,816 

94 

69 

4 

- 

- 

33,051 

5,942 

6,657 

2,332 

4 

23 

42,931 

6,895 

5,526 

2,138 

159 

5 

- 

2 

46,828 

5,075 

3,405 

1,254 

56 

- 

Total 39,524 41,278 48,009 57,657 56,618 

-* ... no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1999-2003 

-21- 
Table 12. Japanese annual imports of fresh sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and volume, 1998-2002 

(metric tons). 

Country of 

origin 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

U.S.A. 1,891 2,034 1,854 1,569 1,185 

Chile 67 1 787 751 675 693 

Canada 478 445 471 422 4 02 

China 353 382 32 9 314 261 

Korea, North 57 174 182 

101 

64 74 

Mexico 1 

Korea, Rep. 342 230 196 169 100 

Peru 5 15 52 86 64 

Hong Kong 33 32 43 30 25 

2 4 3 16 Russia -* 

Aus t r a 1 i a 3 3 4 1 2 

1 

1 

Philippines 3 2 

S. Africa - Norway 8 1 Vietnam - 0** Palau - 0 

Came r oun 

- - - 

- 

- 2 

1 

- - 1 - 

0 

- - - - - - - - - - 

Total 3,844 3,997 3,779 3,444 3,033 

-* ... no imports O**...more than zero but less than 0.5 metric tons 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1999-2003 

Table 13. Japanese annual imports of fresh sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and value, 1998-2002 

(U.S. $1,000). 

origin 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

USA 

Chile 

Canada 

China 

Korea, North 

Mexico 

Korea, Rep. 

Peru 

Hong Kong 

Russia 

Aus t r a 1 i a 

Philippines 

S. Africa 

Norway 

Vietnam 

Palau 

89,420 

21,412 

19,196 

13,589 

1.331 

* 83 

15,731 

135 

1,917 -* 

123 

72 

102,592 

27,255 

18; 862 

14 , 924 

2,127 

11,140 

4 13 

2.010 

51 

190 

48 - 

49 

5 

6 

100,402 

26,325 

20,067 

12,084 

3,569 

9,299 

1,621 

2,642 

113 

180 

58 

36 

- 

- 

- 

79,869 

22; 804 

17,554 

9,969 

8,496 

6,979 

2,519 

1,630 

91 

73 

55,139 

22,216 

15.707 

7; 358 

7,331 

5,602 

4,166 

2,113 

1,024 

478 

115 

43 

12 

Cameroun - - - 

Total 163,049 

2 - 

179,671 176,395 150,002 121,303 

-* ... no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1999-2003 

-22- 
Table 14. Japanese annual imports of frozen sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and volume, 1988-2002 

(metric tons). 

Country of 

oriain 1988 1989 1990 1991 1997 1993 1994 1995 

Chile 

U.S.A. 

Canada 

Korea, North 

Korea, Rep. China 

Peru 

Aus t ra 1 i a 

Hong Kong 

Taiwan 

Vietnam 

Philippines 

Portugal 

Iceland 

Russia 

Mexico 

New Zealand 

179 83 41 143 242 4 65 429 830 

4 32 446 341 344 254 229 98 101 

37 47 66 158 227 137 147 118 

19 85 70 27 24 - 2 2 5 

30 51 36 58 51 33 2 7 

- 18 - 2 3 

O* 0 

Total 7 60 716 653 832 876 94 8 716 1,122 

Country of 

Qrlaln 1996 1997 1998 1999 7000 7001 7002 

Chile 

U.S.A. 

Canada 

Korea, North 

Korea, Rep. China 

Peru 

Cook Is. 

Aus t r a 1 i a 

Vietnam 

Philippines 

Iceland 

Denmark 

Russia 

India 

Mexico 

Total 

750 

88 

83 

26 

9 

15 

10 

3 

0 

3 

7 90 1.124 

43 ' 32 

120 106 

43 152 

7 4 

1,304 

51 

83 

63 

2 

2 

19 

1 

- 

- 

- -5 

4 

2 

3 2 2 

- - 

1,005 1,028 1,421 1,526 1,652 1,690 2,535 

O* .... more than zero but less than 0.5 metric tons 

-**...no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1989-2003 

-23- 

-~ I_ .. 
Table 15 Japanese annual imports of frozen sea urchin roe 

by-country of origin and value, 1988-2002 

(U.S. $1,000). 

Counfry of 

oriain 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Chile 

Korea, Rep. 

Korea, North 

Canada 

U.S.A. 

China 

Peru 

Aus t r a1 i a 

Hong Kong Taiwan 

Vietnam 

Philippines 

Portugal 

Iceland 

Russia 

Mexico 

New Zealand 

290 1,955 3,676 8,731 7,336 17,653 

17 61 138 751 663 408 76299 405 

434 372 744 1,839 1,836 1,070 1,201 1,058 

6,836 5,942 4,163 5,743 3,136 3,977 1,456 1,285 

4 69 601 559 7 68 739 485 41 

- 76 112 - - 1,453 7 62 

6 2 

- - - - - - - - - - 2 134 - - 15 4 2 34 38 

5 61 

6 

4 9 

1,513 1,495 2,682 1,024 742 584 195 277 

16 - 6 57 47 127 

124 

- 

- 5 

19 

- - - 25 

- - 111 - 

- 5 

- 

- - - - - - - - 

- 

Total 10,867 9,291 8,713 12,190 11,033 15,564 10,780 21,747 

Country of 

Oria in 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Chile 

Korea, Rep. 

Korea, North 

Canada 

U.S.A. 

China 

Cook Is. 

Peru 

Aus t ra 1 i a 

Vietnam 

Philippines 

Iceland 

Denmark 

Russia 

India 

Mexico 

15,029 

559 

296 

833 

7 63 

233 

13 

295 

15,167 

377 

591 

953 

309 

68 

26 

- 

- 

19.522 

248 

1,455 

839 

184 

22.436 ' 82 

802 

593 

272 

18 

- 

417 

29 

27,710 

26 

1,377 

571 

217 

140 - 

12 

35 

25,699 

69 

1,161 

623 

274 

17 

9 

- 

- 

43,213 

647 

631 

4 96 

37 6 

277 

104 

101 

12 

Total 18,553 17,633 22,338 24,647 30,091 27,908 45,857 

-* ... no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1989-2003 

-24- 
Table 16. Japanese annual imports of salted sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and volume, 1988-2002 

(metric tons). 

Country of 

oriain 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Korea, Rep. 

Korea, North 

Chile 

Philippines 

China 

Taiwan 

Hong Kong Vietnam 

Indonesia 

Iceland 

Norway 

Russia 

Canada 

U.S.A. 

Mexico 

Aus t r a 1 i a 

New Zealand 

Total 

444 316 252 260 300 254 286 231 

574 198 205 228 298 249 - 19 28 50 34 34 

4 30 378 

27 19 

56 60 72 50 62 61 37 36 

210 147 135 148 113 127 93 99 

27 30 28 24 28 18 3 1 

11 2 0 

22 11 32 

32 2 

2 5 

3 2 

1 

0 1 1 - 1 1 3 

5 

25 17 6 

10 9 

13 16 2 1 

1 1 

0 ** 

- 

- - - - 6 

- 12 -* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 

0 

0 

- - - 

- - - - - - - - - - - - 

- - - - - - 

- - 

1,248 989 1,075 709 750 789 784 696 

Country of 

oriain 1996 1997 1998 1999 7000 2001 2007 

Korea, Rep. 

Korea, North 

Chile 

Philippines 

China 

Taiwan 

Hong Kong Vietnam 

229 

228 

13 

16 

16 

4 

22 

- 

197 

138 

72 

35 

12 

203 

229 

22 

36 

1 

2 

20 

- 

181 

164 

1 

13 

10 

192 

186 

21 

13 

4 

0 

24 

152 

109 

46 

1 

3 i 

1 

149 

57 

23 

18 

5 

3 

0 

- - - - - - 

- 

- 6 

1 

- 

4 

- 1 

0 

- - Iceland 13 

Russia 0 

U.S.A. 

Aus t r a 1 i a 

Peru 

- - - - 1 

- - - 0 - 

- - 

- - - - 

Total 542 4 55 514 37 1 446 319 255 

-* ... no imports 

O**...more than zero but less than 0.5 metric tons 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1989-2003 
Table 17. Japanese annual imports of salted sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and value, 1988-2002 

(U.S. $1,000). 

Country of 

prlain 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Korea, Rep. 

Korea, North 

Chile 

Philippines 

China 

Taiwan 

Hong Kong 

Vietnam 

Indonesia 

14 , 209 

5,152 

211 

273 

2,133 

194 

589 -* 

8,995 

4,113 

147 

324 

1,535 

276 

169 

8,003 

5,392 

382 

1,519 

254 

192 

9,521 

2.273 

368 

269 

1,810 

204 

40 

- 

10 

11,771 

2,814 

330 

354 

1,771 

246 

288 - 

18 

9,152 

2,463 

735 

371 

1,589 

194 

40 

163 

10,191 

2,947 

244 

227 

1,211 

39 

9,711 

2,620 

306 

245 

1.444 

7 

85 

- 

- - 21 62 

39 

2 25 11 - 7 24 122 

245 

6 

7 - - - 

Iceland - - - - - - Norway - - 

Russia - - 98 

Canada 208 104 

U.S.A. 172 134 40 8 Mexico - 16 3 Australia - 2 

New Zealand - - 

- - - - - 

- - 124 - 

- 248 - 

- 332 - - - - - - - - - - 

Total 23,141 15,816 15,914 14,603 17,593 15,071 15,235 14,885 

-* ... no imports 

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

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1989-2003 

Country of 

oriain 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Korea, Rep. 9,497 7, 970 8,068 7,753 9,056 6,321 5,990 2,692 1,497 726 

1,035 324 Korea, North 2,484 1,168 1,663 1,858 

Chile 82 4 65 160 4 

Philippines 120 237 230 82 180 5 119 

255 192 93 96 

27 6 18 

China 34 9 

Taiwan 23 

Hang Kong - 30 18 

Vietnam 184 

213 

Iceland 252 

Russia 7 U.S.A. - 5 Australia - - Peru - - 16 - 

Total 12, 997 10,114 10,386 9,997 12,433 9,217 7,292 

-* ... no imports Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1989-2003 

- 

- 46 

81 103 

100 

17 

- 188 - 

- - 18 18 

105 

20 162 

7 

- - - 

- - - 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

-26- 
Table 18. Japanese annual imports of prepared sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and volume, 1995-2002 

(metric tons). 

Country of 

priain 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Chile 

Russia 

Korea, North 

Korea, Rep. 

China 

Philippines 

Taiwan 

Vietnam 

Iceland 

Canada 

U.S.A. 

Morocco 

806 687 586 564 67 4 688 647 677 

9 2 6 0 1 19 26 57 

56 38 38 

4 2 

78 71 66 32 

1 

1 - 16 

O* 0 

0 

3 5 

4 2 5 

0 

1 

0 

2 20 1 0 

- - - 103 

1 

1 

3 

- - 

- 3 

1 

- - - - - ** - - 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

- - - 

- - 6 - - - 

Total 903 787 702 631 729 7 67 720 776 

O* ... more than zero but less than 0.5 metric tons -**.. no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1996-2003 

Table 19. Japanese annual imports of prepared sea urchin roe 

by country of origin and value, 1995-2002 

(U.S. $1,000). 

Country of 

oriain 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Chile 15,672 13,956 12,281 8,724 10,596 12,451 10,019 12,821 

Russia 248 54 94 12 25 2 93 426 1,674 

532 1,141 608 817 - - 88 49 Korea, North 

30 

8 

China 127 82 

Taiwan 93 74 91 - 62 70 Philippines 

669 

- 2 92 

2 

- 1,367 1,212 1,712 

13 

- - - - 

Korea, Rep. 8 12 

- - - - 115 -* - 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - 11 - - Vietnam 9 

Iceland 

Canada 

U.S.A. 12 

Morocco 

- - 2 

143 

- 

- 70 - 3 - - 47 

18 

- - 

- - 20 - - - - 

Total 17,536 15,568 14,257 9,427 11,518 14,055 11,144 15,399 

-* ... no imports 

Total may not add due to rounding 

Source: Japan Fish Traders Association 1996-2003 
MARKFIT 

Japan is the world's largest market for sea urchins, 

consuming about 92 percent of the world's harvest in 2001 (Minato 

Shinbun Sha August 7, 2003). About 88 percent of the domestic 

consumption of sea urchin roe was supplied by imports in 2002. 

Most fresh sea urchin roe is sold through auction at the 

Tokyo Central Wholesale Market in Tsukiji. Fresh sea urchin roe 

is also sold through central wholesale markets in other cities 

either through auction or directly without auction. It is also 

sold directly to supermarket chains. Frozen and salted roe are 

usually sold directly to processors specializing in preserved 

products. 

Live sea urchins are not sold through central wholesale 

markets. They are primarily shipped to northern Japan, where the 

roe is extracted and packed for shipment to central wholesale 

markets in various cities, and to supermarket chains. 

Wholesale prices for fresh roe vary widely, depending on 

quality, origin, species, supply and demand, and other factors. 

Highest prices are paid for roe which is bright yellow or orange, 

firm, unbroken, and packed neatly in traditional wood trays. Roe 

color is exceedingly important in marketing. Bright yellow roe 

is considered the highest quality in the Tokyo area, although 

consumers in the Osaka area often prefer bright orange 

roe.(Minato Shinbun Sha August 7, 2003). 

Tables 20 and 21 show average annual and monthly wholesale 

prices and sales volume of fresh sea urchin roe at the Tokyo 

Central Wholesale Market. The prices for both domestic and 

imported roe showed fluctuations which were influenced mainly by 

amount of total supply (domestic and imported roe), usually, the 

lower the supply, the higher the price. 

The demand for sea urchin roe is seasonal, with the largest 

amount being consumed in December. Total sales volume (domestic 

and imported) of fresh sea urchin roe at the Tokyo Central 

Wholesale Market is high in December as consumption increases 

over the Japanese holidays (Table 21). 

Sea.urchin roe shipped from Los Angeles is considered to be 

the best in Japan's import market, followed by roe from Boston, 

China, Canada, Chile, San Francisco, Mexico, Alaska, Russia and 

North Korea (Table 22). 

Labor costs for packing roe in traditional wood trays are 

high because of the skill and time required. Plastic cups are 

receiving attention as an economic alternative because of lower 

costs for labor, materials, and shipping. Roe packed in small 

-28- 
plastic cups holding about 100 grams are gaining in popularity at 

supermarkets because of their lower cost. Auction prices at the 

Tokyo Central Wholesale Market in Tsukiji on August 2, 2003, for 

example, were 200-800 yen ($1.68-6.72) for 100 grams in net 

weight of roe in plastic cups, as compared to 700-3,200 yen 

($5.88-26.89) for 120-150 grams in net weight of roe in wood 

trays (Minato Shinbun Sha August 4, 2003). 

The future market for sales of U.S. sea urchins to Japan 

depends to a large extent on Japanese sea urchin harvest. 

Because domestic harvest is not likely to increase in the short 

term, increased export of U.S. sea urchins and sea urchin roe has 

significant potential. 

-29- 

__- - 
Table 20. Annual sales volume and average wholesale prices of 

fresh sea urchin roe at Tokyo Central Wholesale 

Market, 1986-2002. 

Domestic roe Imported roe Total 

Prices Sales volume Prices sales 

Year Metric to ns Yen/ka Metric to ns Yen/ka volume 

Sales volume 

1986 844 7.835 766 

968 

5,578 

5.660 

1.610 

1987 

1988 

1989 

880 

943 

845 

7; 6Si 

7,486 

1; 848 

2,557 

2,739 

2,379 

3,046 

2,136 

1.968 

1.614 4; 463 

4,868 

6,056 

4,689 

6,259 

6,704 

7: 863 1;894 

1,741 

2,552 

1990 638 9; 952 

1991 494 10,283 

1992 405 12,973 

1993 465 12,209 

1994 528 10,551 

1995 535 10.553 

1; 731 

1,503 

1,635 

1.582 

6: 237 2; 163 

2,117 

2,093 

2,283 

1,944 

1,932 

1,885 

1,943 

1,988 

6; 388 

6,117 

6,598 

6,334 

5,845 

5,950 

1996 542 10: 133 1; 551 

1,651 

1,274 

1,287 

1,193 

1,091 

1997 

1998 

632 

670 

9; 630 

10,270 

1999 645 9: 854 

2000 692 

2001 852 

2002 1,070 

9; 629 

8,714 

7,471 

5; 838 

918 5,278 

Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Government 1987-2003 

Table 21. Monthly sales volume and average wholesale prices of 

fresh sea urchin roe at Tokyo Central Wholesale 

Market, 2002. 

Domestic roe Imported roe Total 

Sales volume Prices Sales volume Prices sales 

Month Metric to ns Yen/ka Metric to ns Yen/ku volume 

January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 

Total 

42 

72 

108 

108 

10,509 

6,764 

6,171 

7,424 

5,765 

7,289 

94 

74 

90 

58 

58 

46 

64 

80 

66 

6,124 136 

146 

198 

5; 277 

4,556 

5,254 

3,992 

4,506 

5.050 

166 

207 

152 

149 

106 

97 

77 

59 

69 

78 

105 

8; 191 

9,481 

10,263 

6.693 

161 

157 

125 

5; 011 

5,402 

91 5,769 

85 

112 

160 

6; 375 

8,338 

5; 407 

5,896 

163 

217 

1,070 7,471 918 5,278 1988 

Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Government 2003 

-30- 
Table 22. Daily auction prices of imported fresh sea urchin roe 

by origin at Tokyo Central Wholesale Market, January 

and July 2003 (yen/tray). 

January 2003 

Los San 

Date China Angeles Canada Boston Alaska Francisco 

5 

6 

7 

9 

11 

14 

15 

16 

20 

21 

23 

25 

27 

28 

29 

30 

2300-300 

2500-600 

1800-700 

1800-700 

1700-800 

1600-600 

1700-300 

1500-500 

1500-500 

1500-150 

1800-650 

1400-600 

2000-550 

2000-650 

2000-950 

- 

7800- 600 

9500-2400 

7800- 700 

6500-2500 

4300-1900 

6800- 900 

3500-22110 

5300-2800 

2300- 700 

4800- 600 

8300-1100 

4200- 700 

8000-1000 

4600- 900 

9000-1400 

- 

2200- 200 

2200-1800 

2000- 800 

1800- 700 

1500- 350 

1400- 500 

1300- 700 

1200- 700 

1000- 500 

850- 600 

1000- 500 

1300- 400 

1700- 550 

2000- 800 

2000- 950 

3700-1800 

- 

4500-1600 

4700-1600 

- 

- 

- 

- 

3400-1400 - 

- 

3900-1500 - 

** - 

July, 2003 

Date China Angeles Chile Korea Russia Mexico Alaska 

1 2600- 500 3500- 500 1000- 900 - ** - - - 

3 2500- 300 3500- 800 800 - - - - 

4 2500- 400 - - 800-600 700- 200 - - 

7 2400-1000 3600-1200 - - 1100-1000 - - 8 2500- 500 2800-1300 - - 1000- 750 - - 9 2600- 500 - 1000- 900 - 900- 500 - - 10 2600- 600 - 1300- 900 - - - - 12 3700- 300 - 1800-1000 - - - - 

14 4300- 500 4300-1200 1700-1000 - 1800-1200 - - 15 4500- 600 - 2000- 900 - 1500-1000 - - 

17 4900- 700 4500-2500 2000-1000 - - - - 

18 5100-1000 - 1800-1200 - - - - 22 3800- 400 - 1500- 800 - 800- 500 1500- 800 - 23 3200- 800 - 24 3700- 800 - - - 1200-1100 - 1400-1200 

26 4000-1400 4400-3000 - - 1300-1000 2800-1800 - 

29 3700- 350 - - 30 3500- 850 - - 31 3300- 700 - 

Los North 

- - - - - 

- - - - 

- - - - - - - - - 

Tray* ... 280-350 grams in net weight of roe 

-** ... no supply 

Source: Minato Shinbun Sha 2003 

-31- 
REFERENCES 

FAO. 2003. FISHSTAT PLUS. Capture Production. 1950-2003. Food and 

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. 

-. 2002. [Annual report series]. FA0 yearbook, fishery 

statistics, catches and landings. Food and Agriculture 

Organization of the United Nations, Rome. 

Hokkai Suisan Shinbun Sha. 1993. UNI [Sea urchin in Japanese]. 

Hokkaido, Japan. 253 p. 

Japan Fish Traders Association. 1976-2003. Japanese 

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

Kato, S. 1972. Sea Urchins: A New Fishery Develops in California. 

Marine Fisheries Review. 34:23-35 p. 

Kato, S., and S.C. Schroeter. 1985. Biology of the red sea 

urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, and its fishery in 

California. Marine Fisheries Review. 47:l-20 p. 

Minato Shinbun Sha. 2003 [Japanese daily fisheries and food news 

in Japanese]. Shimonoseki, Japan. 4 p. 

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 1967-2003. 

[annual report series]. Gyogyo yoshoku nenpo [Annual 

production of fisheries and culture in Japanese]. Statistics 

and Information Department. Tokyo, Japan. 

Saito, K. 1992. Sea Urchin Fishery of Japan. California Sea Grant 

College. T-CSGCP-028. 

Suisan Tsushin Sha. 2003. [Japanese daily fishery newspapers in 

Japanese]. Nikkan Suisan Tsushin. Tokyo, Japan. 4 p. 

Tokyo Metropolitan Government. 1987-2003 [Annual report series]. 

Tokyo to Chuo Oroshiuri Ichiba Nenpo [Tokyo central 

wholesale market, annual report]. Tokyo, Japan. 

U.S. Department of Commerce. 2003. Foreign Trade Information. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries Statistics and Economics 

Division. 

-. 2003. Commercial Fisheries. National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Fisheries 

Statistics and Economics Division. 

-32- 
Appendix 1. Monthly and annual average exchange rate applied to 

Japanese imports, 1976-2002 (yen/U.S. $1.00). 

Month 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 

January 305.50 292.64 240.73 195.98 237.68 203.99 221.36 

February 302.84 288.41 241.46 199.16 240.35 203.44 231.15 

March 301.50 282.49 236.94 203.39 247.44 207.80 237.03 

April 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 

August 292.81 265.70 191.18 216.13 224.85 236.35 257.18 

September 288.18 267.14 190.94 220.54 219.10 230.26 258.60 

October 288.43 261.78 187.76 225.41 210.18 229.15 268.14 

November. 294.12 249.13 184.41 238.48 211.28 230.56 272.81 

December 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 

January 232.89 233.83 252.04 202.07 159.01 126.01 125.64 

February 237.03 233.98 256.66 193.53 152.70 128.57 128.49 

March 235.99 228.79 260.53 180.21 153.47 128.72 128.00 

April 238.61 225.10 254.49 178.62 146.97 125.64 132.12 

May 235.43 227.48 251.36 167.08 139.91 124.76 133.78 

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 

August 242.70 243.69 237.92 155.04 150.83 133.12 140.29 

September 244.80 243.02 239.20 154.66 143.02 134.21 145.10 

October 236.15 246.68 221.43 154.23 144.59 132.58 142.58 

November 234.22 244.08 209.32 160.34 138.52 125.36 142.67 

December 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 

-33- 

- 
Appendix 1. (continued). Monthly and annual average exchange 

rate applied to Japanese imports, 1976-2002 

(yen/U. S. $1.00) . 

Month 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 

January 144.36 135.27 126.21 124.66 111.79 100.25 104.49 

February 144.93 130.97 125.47 123.98 109.23 99.19 106.38 

March 148.61 134.02 130.46 117.95 105.04 94.49 105.32 

April 156.99 137.68 133.37 115.05 104.47 86.99 107.07 

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 

May 

July 151.95 138.85 125.61 108.16 99.55 85.46 109.55 

August 148.90 137.00 126.99 105.38 99.57 90.73 107.84 

September 142.96 136.24 124.36 104.37 99.25 98.48 108.78 

October 133.82 131.72 121.03 105.79 98.97 100.88 110.99 

November 128.31 130.47 122.71 107.80 97.41 101.56 112.86 

December 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 2001 2002 

January 

February 

March 

April 

June 

May 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 

Jan. -Dec. 

115.60 130.98 114.09 103.76 115.37 131.11 

121.26 125.90 115.02 107.05 116.56 133.32 

122.38 127.35 119.88 108.29 118.10 132.04 

124.29 130.84 119.55 106.02 123.97 132.09 

123.99 132.33 120.21 107.38 122.56 128.74 

114.98 138.65 121.52 108.36 120.93 124.84 

114.08 140.47 121.56 106.34 124.40 120.17 

117.18 143.44 115.95 108.70 123.50 118.39 

119.44 138.58 110.21 106.71 119.97 118.93 

121.18 129.32 106.34 107.88 119.40 123.23 

122.27 118.14 105.21 108.14 121.73 122.40 

127.90 120.26 103.73 110.67 124.35 122.83 

120.38 131.36 114.44 107.44 120.90 125.67 

Sources: Japan Fish Traders Association 1977-2003 

-34-