Seafood in season in Feb (No.1)
We will introduce the fish and shellfish that will be in season in February by dividing them into the whole of Japan and the prefectures ranked at the top. Please note that the season may vary depending on the region and year depending on the landing conditions due to climate change, so please consider it as reference data only.
Table of contents
1. Fish and shellfish that are in season in February (whole Japan)
3. 2nd place Shimane prefecture
4. 3rd place Aomori prefecture
1. Fish and shellfish that are in season in February (whole Japan)
The number of fish and shellfish that are in season in February is 25 out of the 87 species surveyed, which is the third lowest in a year. The following is a list of 25 types of fish and shellfish in no particular order.
Fish
monkfish, flatfish, red bream, shark, spanish mackerel, Japanese icefish, sea bream, flounder, blowfish, Japanese amberjack, gurnard, pond smelt
Shellfish
round clam, ark shell, asari clam, oyster, freshwater clam, hard clam, scallop
Other seafood
northern shrimp, octopus ocellatus, spear squid, snow crab, king crab, laver
The prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in February are Hokkaido (15 types of fish and shellfish), Shimane prefecture (8 types), and Aomori prefecture (7 types). 4th place is Hyogo prefecture (6 types). The 5th place is Miyagi prefecture, Ibaraki prefecture, Fukuoka prefecture, and Nagasaki prefecture (5 types).
2. 1st place Hokkaido
Hokkaido (15 types of fish and shellfish) ranked first in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in February. The number of seasonal fish and shellfish of 15 types is the highest in a single month in Hokkaido, and it is also the highest in a single month in all prefectures. Hokkaido has been in the top 3 for 8 consecutive months.
In Hokkaido, the following 15 types of fish and shellfish are in season in February.
Fish
flatfish, shark, Japanese icefish, flounder, blowfish, Japanese amberjack, pond smelt
Shellfish
round clam, asari clam, freshwater clam, scallop
Other seafood
northern shrimp, spear squid, snow crab, king crab
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Ishikari Bay Herring” (season: January-May) for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring of Hokkaido. Also, in winter “PRIDE FISH”,“Wakkanai / Rumoi’s Ginnanso grass” (season: January-March), “Sea of Japan / Funka Bay Scallops” (season: December-March) and “Hakodate Gokko (smooth lumpsucker)” (season: December-April) is selected. We have introduced all of them before, so we won’t explan this time.
3. 2nd place Shimane prefecture
Shimane Prefecture (8 types of fish and shellfish) was second in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in February.
In Shimane Prefecture, the following eight types of fish and shellfish are in season in February.
Fish
monkfish, flatfish, spanish mackerel, Japanese icefish, Japanese amberjack, gurnard
Shellfish
freshwater clam
Other seafood
snow crab
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Oki Matsuba Crab” (season: November-February) for the winter “PRIDE FISH” in Shimane Prefecture. February is the end of the season for “Oki Matsuba crab”. I introduced “Oki Matsuba Crab” before, so I won’t explain it this time.
4. 3rd place Aomori prefecture
Aomori Prefecture (7 types of fish and shellfish) ranked third in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in February.
In Aomori Prefecture, the following seven types of fish and shellfish are in season in February.
Fish
monkfish, Japanese icefish, flounder, pond smelt
Shellfish
freshwater clam, scallop
Other seafood
spear squid
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Aomori Hokki-gai (Sakhalin surf clam)” (season: January-March) as the winter “PRIDE FISH” in Aomori Prefecture. I went to Misawa in December 2021 and ate “Misawa Hokki Don”. “PRIDE FISH” is said to be in season from January to March, but Misawa City’s “Hokki Don” can be eaten from December 1st to March 31st.
Next time, we will introduce the 4th and 5th places.