The Bioeconomy Consortium held its 3rd Bio-Salon.
Topic: “The Current Status of Underutilized Fish and Considerations for Their Effective Utilization”
The 3rd Bio Salon was held at Aore Nagaoka on Wednesday, January 11.
The Teradomari Fisheries Cooperative presented on the status of underutilized fish in Teradomari and initiatives to increase their value, while Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd. presented on its efforts to utilize underutilized fish.
In addition, Fukuoka Prefecture Co., Ltd.BennersMr. Inokuchi introduced us to his company’s innovative business model, which utilizes underutilized fish. Benners Co., Ltd. operates “Fishlle!,” a subscription service featuring underutilized fish. Just as other fish have their seasonal peaks, underutilized fish also have their own seasonal varieties, and “Fishlle!” is a service that regularly delivers dishes made from the freshest fish caught that month, prepared in a way that’s both easy to eat and delicious. He shared valuable insights with us, including how he launched the company and the challenges he faced along the way.
After the presentation, a tasting session was held featuring dishes made with underutilized fish.
The dishes were prepared by six restaurants participating in the “Let’s Eat Teradomari Fish” campaign, which begins on January 16. The menu featured dishes made with beech salmon, stingray fins, bow-headed cuttlefish, shark, and megi fish.
Participants from the Bio Salon and restaurant owners also exchanged information on cooking methods, creative approaches, and challenges they faced. Every dish was both delicious and easy to eat, and it was clear that the restaurant owners had put a great deal of thought and effort into them. To ensure the stable utilization of underutilized fish, there appear to be many challenges to overcome before the fish can actually be consumed, such as tracking catch volumes and determining processing locations and methods.
Amid declining local consumption of locally caught seafood and the growing problem of discarded underutilized fish, Nagaoka City and the Teradomari Fisheries Cooperative have been promoting the “Let’s Eat Teradomari Fish Project” to residents since 2022. The project aims to help people discover and enjoy the taste of underutilized fish—which are often not commonly consumed—as “limited marine resources.”
