Sushi Zsnmai, a popular restaurant chain in Japan, just paid 1.7 million dollars, yes that's 1.7 million dollars, for the first of the season 222-kilogram (489-pound) tuna to arrive at the city's famed Tsukiji Market. That works out to be roughly 3,600 USD per pound. Wow! That's a a lot of money for a single fish.
And while no individual fish offers an enhanced fillet worthy of such an unbelievable high price, the prestige of owning the first-of-the-first is highly sought after by competing Japanese sushi restaurants.
As one might expect, the winning bid broke all previous records and has prompted many in the fishing industry to look forward to higher profits. Chefs, meanwhile, are dreading a possible increase in seafood costs due to overfishing.
May the seas be kind to us and we to the sea.
Your Culinary World copyright Ana Kinkaid/Peter Schlagel 2013