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  Reuters 22 May 07
Japanese may soon eat more meat than fish

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese, the world's top fish consumers, may soon be eating more meat than fish because of higher prices and a growing sense that preparing seafood is messy and complicated, a government report said on Tuesday.

Rising demand from other countries, including China, has helped push fish prices higher in recent years, particularly for higher-end items such as tuna, and quota reductions have added to the pressure.

The fisheries white paper for the fiscal year to March 31 said the Japanese consumers bought an average 12.7 kg of seafood per person in 2005, compared with 12.6 kg of meat.

"It seems clear that fish consumption may soon be overcome by meat consumption unless something is done," a Fisheries Agency official said.

Fish purchases peaked in 1965 at 16 kg per person, compared with 6 kg of meat, but they have declined steadily since then as meat purchases rose.

Asked to name the main part of their meals, 56 percent of respondents in the latest survey said meat, compared with only 11 percent who said fish. One-third said their meals were about evenly divided.

Of those who chose meat, 32 percent said they did so because people in their family, especially children, didn't like fish, and 31 percent said fish was more expensive. Another 25 percent who said cooking fish was "a nuisance," the report said.

A full 70 percent of women in their 30s said they did not gut and slice fish to prepare it for cooking. Other reasons given for not cooking fish were that it was messy and left a fishy smell in the house.

The report underscores the challenges facing Japan's top seafood companies, which include Maruha Group Inc., Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd., Nichiro Corp. and Kyokuyo Co. Ltd.

While young people have been drifting away from fish for years, the white paper found that fish eating has declined among all age groups, even those aged 50 and over who in the past ate more fish than meat.

"The reasons for the decline are clearly shown in the report, which will help us take steps to counter it," the fisheries official said. These could range from expanding catches to keep prices stable, to devising new fish recipes and holding cooking classes.

Growing global health consciousness has pushed up demand for fish higher overseas, whittling down Japan's portion of international catches and pushing prices higher.

In just one example, its share of U.S. cod exports fell from 52 percent in 2000 to 19 percent in 2006, the report said.
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