Aug 22 (NHK) - The northward migration of fugu, or blowfish, as well as new types created through mixed breeding, are causing confusion in Tokyo's Tsukiji food market.
Increasing numbers of fugu from Hokkaido and northeastern Japan have been arriving at the market.
Mixed-bred fish whose precise type cannot be identified are destroyed for safety reasons.
A metropolitan ordinance requires fugu wholesalers at Tsukiji to get a fugu-preparation license.
Kenji Oguri, who has worked for years as an intermediate wholesaler, says it's strange that more and more fugu with colors and patterns he's never seen are being caught.
He says he wants to see more research on interbreeding and to make sure everyone knows what's happening.
Tokyo Metropolitan government food sanitation experts monitor fugu twice a day to prevent the accidental sale of mixed-bred fish.
Inspector Tatsuya Takagi says fugu that have never been seen before at Tsukiji have been appearing recently.
He says he's asking wholesalers to make sure mixed-bred fugu whose safety cannot be confirmed do not leave the market.
