Record-Breaking Tuna Auction in Japan: What It Means for American Fisheries and Seafood Prices

Every year, Japan’s iconic New Year’s tuna auction turns a spotlight not just on the prized catch but on a global fisheries market that increasingly impacts American shores and wallets. This year, a colossal 535-pound tuna fetched an eye-popping record of $3.2 million at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market — a symbol of global demand that reverberates far beyond Japan. The winning bid came from Kiyomura Corp., owner of the Sushi Zanmai chain, highlighting how centralized control of premium seafood supplies can drive prices to astronomical levels. While this spectacle may seem like distant theater, it reflects growing pressures faced by...