In the wake of recent concerns over Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water, hindering the export of local marine products, there's an unexpected surge in American purchases of Japanese scallops.
According to reports from Japanese media, scallops from Hokkaido, Japan, are being shipped to Mexico for processing, with subsequent attempts to penetrate the upscale U.S. market now officially underway.
Minerva Perez, President of the local Mexican enterprise "Atenea en el Mar," expressed confidence, stating that if the plan is formally launched, they will increase manpower and adopt a three-shift system to meet demand. The company exports approximately 40 tons of products like geoduck and abalone monthly, marking their first endeavor in handling Japanese scallops. These scallops are being considered as premium ingredients potentially circulating in the U.S. market, attracting significant attention.
Due to the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company, the export volume of Japanese scallops decreased by nearly 40% in 2023, amounting to only about 81,000 tons.
During negotiations with food buyers held in Los Angeles on March 16th, attendees sampled scallops freshly processed within 24 hours in Mexico.
An operator from a U.S. seafood company remarked on the scallops' exquisite taste, expressing interest in establishing a long-term partnership with Japanese enterprises.
