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Ahi plentiful FOLKS who celebrate the New Year with a succulent platter of sashimi can relax. There'll be plenty of the ahi to go around and prices should be about the same as last year, fishmongers say.
for New Year’s
Prices are expected to be about
the same as last year,
say fishmongersBy Janine Tully
Star-BulletinBrooks Takenaka, assistant general manager for the United Fishing Agency, the company that runs the auction where most Hawaii fish is sold to retailers, said fishing was better than expected.
By 5 a.m. this morning, the fishing agency, located at Kewalo Basin, was housing close to 100,000 pounds of ahi, and more was expected to come. "This is only the third delivery," he said.
Every year at this time, demand for sashimi increases, particularly in the Japanese community, where eating sashimi on New Year's is a tradition. The raw tuna is believed to bring happiness and prosperity throughout the new year.
At the Farmer's Market on Ward Avenue today, medium quality ahi was selling at $9.99 to $13.95 a pound. The best tuna sold for $17 to $26 a pound.
Federal restrictions on longline fishing, a shortage of longline vessels, adverse weather conditions and the general uncertainty of whether fish are biting created some fear of a low supply this week.
However, Jim Cook of the Western Pacific Fisheries Regional Council, said he's optimistic there will be plenty of ahi through the weekend when most of the fish for New Year's Eve parties is sold.
"Fish is good right now; guys are doing well," Cook said. "The primary reason for a shortage, if there is one, is that we don't have 32 boats. Apart from that the catch is quite good."
Thirty-two longline fishing vessels relocated to California, following the federal ban on deep-water fishing in some Hawaiian waters, Cook said.
Wholesale tuna prices this year are comparable to last year at this time with high-end tuna selling for $11 to $12 dollars a pound, mid-range tuna for $4 to $5 and cheaper grade cuts for as low as $2 to $3.
Masa Tobaru, of Masa & Joyce in Kaneohe, won't even consider buying "the cheap stuff." He only goes for quality, he said, pointing to a deep red meat tuna packed in ice. "This is good," he said.
Qualities to look for are firmness, color and texture, he said. A prized grade is the fatty, marbled ahi, ideal for sashimi and poke.
But really high-grade tuna is harder to catch, said Takenaka. The fattier tuna is usually caught by longliners who are after swordfish, but there are fewer of those vessels now, he said.
"They are the ones who bring in the fatty stuff," he said.
The more fat in the fish, the more expensive it is.
Retailers said demand appears to be high this year.
Ryan Asato, of Marukai Market Place, said 50 people had called this morning asking on the average for three pounds or more of quality-grade ahi each. Calls started trickling in soon after Christmas, but orders have increased as New Year's Eve nears, Asato said.
A Moiliili resident, who didn't want to be identified, said he was buying his ahi early to avoid the mad rush Saturday and Sunday. The man nearly depleted Bob's Fish Market ahi supply in one swoop, buying 15 pounds of ahi at $13.95 a pound.
"Will you be getting more?" he asked the salesman.