The Nodoguro Nightmare Returns After 15 Years

Melt-in-your-mouth aburi Nodoguro, fresh sashimi, grilled Karei, and indulgent bowls topped with Amaebi shrimp are local delicacies enjoyed this time of year.

A tourist from Shiga Prefecture commented, "It’s incredibly fresh and delicious, so I come here about four times a year."

In Echizen Town, Fukui Prefecture, bottom-trawling was opened to nearshore fishing on the 1st of this month, followed by the first auction on the 4th.

With energetic shouts, Akagarei and Amaebi shrimp were auctioned off, and the port buzzed with activity.

However, this year’s seasonal sashimi may be at risk due to the potential mass reappearance of a certain sea creature, the first in 15 years.

A local fisherman commented, "There are fewer Sasagarei and Nodoguro this year. The jellyfish are a problem—about 20 to 30 of them get caught in the nets."

Large jellyfish have been caught along with fish in the bottom-trawling nets, causing serious problems for fishermen.

Isumi Makoto, president of the Echizen Town Small Bottom-Trawling Association, noted, "The jellyfish are so heavy that the nets can’t be lifted. The fish weaken, and we have to be very careful because freshness is key."

Fifteen years ago, in 2009, large jellyfish swarmed the waters off Fukui Prefecture in massive numbers.

Nobuhiro Kawano, director of the Marine Resources Research Center at the Fukui Prefecture Fisheries Research Institute, explained, "We haven’t seen this kind of mass jellyfish outbreak in 15 years. This year, they’re appearing more than usual. They can grow up to a meter long from summer to autumn."

The large jellyfish, carried by ocean currents from the East China Sea, have been spotted in Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, with around 1,000 confirmed sightings.

According to the Echizen Fisheries Cooperative, on the first day of fishing, the catch of high-end fish like Nodoguro and Sasagarei was reduced by about 40%, largely due to the impact of the jellyfish.