Japan Fisheries Agency Releases Stock Assessments for Seven Fish Stocks in Sea of Japan and East China Sea: Red Snow Crab Indicators Differ by More Than 30 Percentage Points Between Two Areas

Tokyo — Japan's Fisheries Agency released stock assessment results on October 30 for six species and seven stocks in the Sea of Japan and adjacent East China Sea. The assessments were conducted by the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) together with regional research institutions, covering red snow crab (benizuwai, Chionoecetes japonicus), two stocks of Japanese flounder (hirame, Paralichthys olivaceus), and four other demersal fishery resources: flathead flounder (akagarei, Hippoglossoides dubius), pointhead flounder (souhachi, Cleisthenes herzensteini), Korean flounder (mushigarei, Eopsetta grigorjewi) and deepsea smelt (nigisu, Glossanodon semifasciatus).

The red snow crab assessment results show clear regional differences. In the minister-licensed fishery, which operates mainly off Tottori and Shimane, the resource status indicator was 61.9%, below the 80% target reference level but still above the 56% limit threshold. In contrast, prefectural waters from Aomori to Hyogo recorded an indicator of 92.3%, exceeding the management target. Japan's 2025 catches also reflect the commercial weight of the two areas: approximately 6,117 tonnes in minister-licensed offshore waters and 4,535 tonnes in prefectural waters.

Japanese flounder stocks remain under pressure. The northern Sea of Japan stock, distributed from Aomori to Toyama, had a 2025 catch of approximately 1,361 tonnes, continuing the declining trend in harvested individuals observed since 2017. The central-western Sea of Japan and East China Sea stock, distributed from Ishikawa to Kagoshima, had landings of approximately 724 tonnes, continuing the contraction that began several years ago.

Not all demersal stocks surveyed are in decline. Flathead flounder had 2025 landings of approximately 3,100 tonnes, and its scientific bottom trawl survey density index reached 23.8, still above the reference level since 2009. The Fisheries Agency release also integrated stock assessments for pointhead flounder, Korean flounder and deepsea smelt, all important target species for regional fleets with established sales channels for fresh and frozen products.

The Fisheries Agency noted that these assessments are part of a broader scientific framework monitoring 192 marine species. The published indicators provide an empirical basis for upcoming policy revisions but do not themselves represent formally approved total allowable catch (TAC) quotas. Red snow crab is a transboundary biomass and is also harvested by South Korea.

Separately, according to the General Administration of Customs December 2025 import and export statistics, Japan's exports of Alaska pollock that month (under HS codes 03036700 frozen Alaska pollock, 03047500 frozen Alaska pollock fillets, and 03049400 frozen Alaska pollock meat) totaled 597.806 tonnes, with an export value of USD 2,190,392.0 and an average export price of USD 3,664.05 per tonne; under the same statistical scope, another record shows an export value of USD 2,190,351.0 and an average export price of USD 3,664.12 per tonne, with figures inconsistent across sources.