The new year begins with fireworks and the tradition of eating red fish for good luck. This year, a stable ahi supply and prices make it easier to savor this symbol of prosperity.
If ringing in the new year means red fish on the table, you’re in luck.
“The boats have been landing 20 thousand pounds, five or six boats or more, 8 boats today, over 100,000 pounds over the last two weeks,” said Eric Kingma, executive director of the Hawaii Longline Association. “The auction started off loading at midnight, so this industry grinds to produce this high quality fish for Hawaii.”
Favorable conditions resulted in an abundant haul of yellowfin and bluefin tuna this year.
“It’s going to be a heavy supply, it should be enough to support the demand for this coming new years,” said Mike Goto, Vice President of the Hawaii Fish Auction.
The good news is with a healthy supply of fish this year, prices should remain comparable to last year’s prices
Guy Tamashiro of Tamashiro Market said he’s happy with the haul he’s seeing, but he’d like an even bigger selection of fish, after having to fight for some of the best of the best in the catch.
“There’s so few, so if I want ’em I gotta pay the price otherwise I’m gonna lose it to someone else, and I want our customers to have it,” said Tamashiro.
But at Tamashiro Market, prices range from $10 a pound to over $40 a pound, similar to last year.
“The blue fin we’re selling at $42.95 and that’s for the belly quarter and the back quarter is about $39.95,” said Tamashiro, who explains bluefin tuna is often the fattier of the fish. “My costs are the same. This week and last week my labor costs are way up but we’re just holding it the same.”
“We’ve got some otoro, some premium and some salmon and getting the hamachi,” said Phillip Miyoshi, who was standing in line with an armful of fish. He explained his hefty purchase, “yeah, well, I’m feeding two families.”
At least for customers who say ahi is a must-have for the new year, it’s the price you pay.
“That’s the way it is in Hawaii, right? Come and get it for New Year’s Eve, trying to get here a day earlier before the crowd really comes tomorrow, right?” said Miyoshi.