Overview

• Wholesale prices for fresh salmon roe are about five times higher than two decades ago, according to Hokkaido Shimbun Digital.
• The fishing season began in late August and fresh roe has reached stores, but retail distribution started at high prices.
• Autumn salmon catches have fallen with higher sea-surface temperatures, and a rapid recovery in returns this season is not expected.
• Home-made ikura, once a familiar fall staple, is effectively becoming a premium item as shoppers hunt for lower-priced options.
• Regional media are treating the surge as a major local development, and reports say significant near-term price relief is unlikely.