International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade
Abstract
In this paper, we illustrate characteristics of food system of tuna by making a bird’s-eye view of tuna
trade and global distribution. Tuna resources are primarily consumed as canned tuna or Sashimi (=raw
fish). The fishing methods and species predetermine the food system of the caught fish. Among seven
tuna species that FAO Fishstat identifies, Bluefin, Southern Bluefin and Bigeye tunas are solely
consumed as Sashimi, and therefore mostly exported to Japan. These tuna species are not worth fishing
commercial resources unless they are purchased by Japanese. If we view Japanese consumers as a unique
buyer, the market structure is characterized as a monopsony. Moreover, if the tuna is frozen, the product
will be rocked in the closed distribution channel where the temperature of the cold-chain is not a standard
one, minus 20 degree, but rather an extreme cold, minus 60 degree: such storage does not exist anywhere
else. Despite such monopsonistic structure, the export prices of these species are not low compared with
other marine products. We will further examine market structure and degree of concentration of world
sashimi market. Other two species, Yellowfin and Albacore, are consumed both as canned product and
Sashimi. Export price of Sashimi tuna is more than twice as high as that for canned material.
Nevertheless, the supply of tuna to canning sector has not been ended off nor had the resource been
depleted yet as a result of competitive catch. It is expected that the difference of fishing/ distribution
costs, demanded size, and the risk-return composition influenced the behavior of world tuna fishers and
allowed some diversity in fishing methods and distribution. In fact, some fishing enterprises in Taiwan
and the Philippines supply to both Sashimi and canning markets. While in Japan, there is no such
example. We will examine the rational and sustainability of such co-existence of different distribution
channels that share the same tuna resource
