Seafood in season in June
We will introduce the fish and shellfish that will be in season in June 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 June (whole Japan)
2. 1st place Miyagi prefecture (9 types)
3. 2nd place Nagasaki prefecture (8 types)
4. 3rd place Hokkaido (7 types)
5. 3rd place Shimane prefecture (7 types)
6. 5th place Ehime prefecture (6 types)
1. Fish and shellfish that are in season in June (whole Japan)
The number of fish and shellfish that will be in season in June is 33 out of the 87 species surveyed, which is the second highest in a year. The following is a list of 33 types of fish and shellfish in no particular order.
Fish
horse mackerel, conger eel, sweetfish, chicken grunt, sardine, marlin, barracuda, flatfish, filefish, great amberjack, sillago, silver-stripe round herring, spanish mackerel, striped jack, Japanese sea bass, loach, flying fish, tuna, black rockfish
Shellfish
turban shell, Japanese egg cockle, Japanese scallop
Other seafood
oval squid, neon flying squid, golden cuttlefish, Japanese flying squid, sea urchin, Japanese tiger prawn, hair crab, firefly squid, sea squirt, common octopus, nemacystus decipiens
The prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in June are Miyagi prefecture (9 types of fish and shellfish), Nagasaki prefecture (8 types), Hokkaido and Shimane prefecture (7 types) , Ehime prefecture (6 types).
2. 1st place Miyagi prefecture (9 types)
Miyagi Prefecture (9 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 June. Miyagi Prefecture ranked first for two consecutive months.
In Miyagi prefecture, the following 9 types of fish and shellfish are in season in June.
Fish
conger eel, sardine, marlin, Japanese sea bass, tuna
Shellfish
Japanese scallop
Other seafood
sea urchin, sea squirt, common octopus
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Miyagi salmon“ (season: April-July) for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring in Miyagi prefecture and “Sea squirt“ (season: June-August) and “Omotehama Anago (conger eel)” (season: June-August) for “PRIDE FISH” in summer. We have introduced “Miyagi salmon” by “Seafood in season in April“.
“Sea squirt” (season: June-August)
Miyagi Prefecture has the highest production of sea squirts in Japan (2020). The second place is Hokkaido and the third place is Iwate prefecture. Aomori Prefecture is in fourth place, and the production of sea squirts in Japan is limited to these four prefectures. The origin of sea squirt aquaculture is also in Miyagi prefecture (Karakuwa town). Sea squirt aquaculture started about 120 years ago in Karakuwa Town, which is near Kesennuma City. In addition, the history of sea squirt eating is said to be about 1000 years ago.
Sea squirts are also called “sea pineapples”. The name “sea pineapple” may be mistaken for a sea squirt as a plant, but the sea squirt is a marine animal belonging to the Chordate.
The sweetness peculiar to sea squirts during the season is very delicious, and I love sea squirts.
“Omotehama Anago (conger eel)” (season: June-August)
Miyagi Prefecture has the third highest catch of conger eels in Japan (2020). The first place is Nagasaki prefecture, and the second place is Shimane prefecture.
“Omotehama Anago (conger eel)” is a conger eel caught in the Omotehama district of Ishinomaki City (Sendai Bay). Conger eel fishing began about 90 years ago in the Omotehama area. Conger eels are caught by conger eel tube fishing that attracts to tubular fishing gear. Unlike bottom trawling, conger eel tube fishing does not damage the fish. Therefore, fishermen can catch high quality conger eels with good taste. In addition, Sendai Bay is located at the Oyashio and Kuroshio tides, and is one of the world’s leading plankton-rich fishing grounds suitable for growing conger eels. “Omotehama Anago (conger eel)” is also called “northern conger eel” or “Oshika conger eel”, and has received high praise for its quality in the Toyosu market in Tokyo.
3. 2nd place Nagasaki prefecture (8 types)
Nagasaki 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 June.
In Nagasaki Prefecture, the following 8 types of fish and shellfish are in season in June.
Fish
horse mackerel, conger eel, chicken grunt, sardine, flying fish
Shellfish
turban shell
Other seafood
Japanese flying squid, sea urchin
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Japanese horse mackerel (Gon-Aji, Nomon-Aji)“ (season: April-June) for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring and “Isaki (chicken grunt) of Nagasaki” (season: June-September) for “PRIDE FISH” in the summer of Nagasaki prefecture. We have introduced “Japanese horse mackerel (Gon-Aji, Nomon-Aji)” by “Seafood in season in April“.
“Isaki (chicken grunt) of Nagasaki” (season: June-September)
Nagasaki Prefecture has the highest catch of chicken grunt in Japan (2020) with a share of 31%. The second place is Fukuoka prefecture, and the third place is Yamaguchi prefecture. Chicken grunt is also written as “chicken fish” because its dorsal fin resembles a chicken comb. The chicken grunt from June to July, which is the spawning season, is called “rainy season chicken grunt” and its exceptional taste is highly evaluated. It was recommend sashimi and pottery where we can enjoy the rich fat.
4. 3rd place Hokkaido (7 types)
Hokkaido (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 June. Shimane Prefecture is also in third place.
In Hokkaido, the following 7 types of fish and shellfish are in season in June.
Fish
flatfish
Shellfish
scallop
Other seafood
neon flying squid, Japanese flying squid, sea urchin, sea squirt, common octopus
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Ishikari Bay Herring“ (season: January-May) , “Hidaka Ma-tsubu (whelk)“ (season: April-July), “Hokkaido Toki-shirazu (summer-catch salmon)” (season: April-July) for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring of Hokkaido. Also, in summer “PRIDE FISH”, “Alaskan pink shrimp of the Sea of Japan“ (season: May-July) and “Akkeshi oyster” (season: May-August) are selected.
We have introduced “Ishikari Bay Herring”, “Hidaka Ma-tsubu (whelk)”, “Hokkaido Toki-shirazu (summer-catch salmon)” and “Alaskan pink shrimp of the Sea of Japan” before, so we will omit the explanation this time.
“Akkeshi oyster” (season: May-August)
We can eat oysters all year round in Akkeshi. Akkeshi is the only place in Japan where we can eat oysters all year round. In Akkeshi, the seawater temperature does not rise easily even in the summer due to the influence of cold currents, and the growth of oysters slows down, making it possible to control the timing of aquaculture. Therefore, fishermen can ship oysters all year round. When the water temperature is low, the growth of oysters slows down, so they grow slowly and grow large by continuing to receive nutrition for a long period of time.
“Akkeshi oysters” was selected for “PRIDE FISH” in the summer because it is a summer that is hard to eat anywhere else. The most delicious time of “Akkeshi oysters” is from December to February.
Akkeshi has long been known as an oyster producing area, as the etymology of the place name is the Ainu word “Akkekeshi (The place oysters living)”.
5. 3rd place Shimane prefecture (7 types)
Shimane 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 June. Hokkaido is also in third place.
In Shimane Prefecture, the following 7 types of fish and shellfish are in season in June.
Fish
horse mackerel, conger eel, chicken grunt, flatfish, spanish mackerel, flying fish
Shellfish
turban shell
Other seafood
None
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Ago (flying fish)“ (season: June-August) for “PRIDE FISH” in the summer in Shimane Prefecture. It is one of the “PRIDE FISH” in Shimane prefecture, which has only four types in one year.
“Ago (flying fish)” (season: June-August)
“Ago” means “flying fish”. It is popular among Shimane residents as a “fish that heralds summer.” It is also designated as a “prefectural fish” in Shimane Prefecture. Flying fish seem to fly up to 500m when gliding. Currently, it is not the mainstream fishing method, but there is a traditional fishing method called “flying fish scooping” that scoops flying fish flying in the air with a landing net.
The season for flying fish is from June to August, when the body is nourished for spawning. Freshly caught flying fish are served with sashimi or grilled fish.
In Shimane and Tottori prefectures, there is a special product called “Ago no Yaki”, which is made by mashing flying fish and baking it. “Ago no Yaki” has been selected as a local dish of Tottori prefecture by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries “100 selections of local dishes“, but it is manufactured and sold in Shimane prefecture as well as in Tottori prefecture.
Flying fish eggs are called “Tobikko” and are used as delicacies and sushi ingredients. In addition, “Agodashi”, which is made by boiling and drying flying fish, is used to make the soup stock of dishes.
6. 5th place Ehime prefecture (6 types)
Ehime prefecture (6 types of fish and shellfish) was ranked 5th in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in June.
In Ehime prefecture, the following 6 types of fish and shellfish are in season in June.
Fish
horse mackerel, sweetfish, great amberjack, striped jack
Shellfish
None
Other seafood
golden cuttlefish , Japanese tiger prawn
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Biyabiya Bonito” (season: April-June) for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring of Ehime Prefecture. Also, “Madako (common octopus) off the coast of Matsuyama” (season: June-September) is selected as summer “PRIDE FISH”.
“Biyabiya Bonito” (season: April-June)
“Biyabiya” in “Biyabiya Bonito” is a dialect of Ainan Town, Ehime Prefecture, which means “very fresh and elastic”. It is a rare bonito that can only be eaten around the fishing port landed at Fukaura Fishing Port in Ainan Town. Only those managed by the Ainan Fisheries Cooperative and whose quality is confirmed to be reliable can be called “Biyabiya Bonito”.
Currently, it is only available at a few restaurants authorized by the Ainan Fisheries Cooperative for quality control. “Biyabiya Bonito” is numbered and tagged for each bonito, and quality control is performed.
Fukaura Fishing Port has the largest amount of bonito landed in Shikoku, but the total amount of bonito caught in Ehime Prefecture is 16th in Japan.
“Madako (common octopus) off the coast of Matsuyama” (season: June-September)
Iyo-nada, where “Madako (common octopus) off the coast of Matsuyama” is caught, has a fast tide and is rich in crustaceans and shellfish that feed on octopuses. Common octopus is caught by traditional “octopus trap fishing”. “Octopus trap pot fishing” is characterized by being able to catch octopus without damaging the body and stressing the octopus. The catch of octopus in Ehime prefecture is the 19th place in Japan.
The season of “Akashi octopus”, which is selected by Japan Fisheries Cooperatives as “PRIDE FISH” in summer in Hyogo prefecture, is also from June to September.
