ホタルイカ、最後は富山で光る気ままなリライト140

ホタルイカ豊漁、富山で3月最高　スーパー価格、昨年の3分の1 - 日本経済新聞

This spawning season's spectacle in Toyama Bay, Toyama Prefecture has left even its seasoned residents and fishers in awe. The familiar brilliant blue glow of countless firefly squids illuminating the coastal waters has been exceptionally vivid as they are returning en masse to reproduce and die after their one-year life cycle. This year, the unusually dense swarms of mating bioluminescent squids have dramatically improved the blue harvest of treasure, capturing a record-breaking number of squids far surpassing the previous years. This abundant catch is not only revitalizing the local economy but also introducing this cherished delicacy to a broader array of gourmet enthusiasts.

This year, the bountiful harvest of firefly squids in Toyama has been boosting their recognition as a culinary gem. The March haul soared to 1,153 tons, marking a record high since 1958. The trend of high catches has continued beyond April. Despite a remarkable drop in the market price to 98 yen per 100g, just a third of last year's price, sales from early to mid-April have surged to 2.5 times those of the previous years. This surge is indicating that the firefly squid’s seasonal appeal is captivating more local home cooks than expected. Renowned for their tender texture and subtly sweet flavor, firefly squids are being gracefully featured in a variety of dishes, enriching diverse culinary experiences.

In Toyama Bay, where both fishing and tourism are vital to the local economy, special attention has been paid to firefly squids’ lifetime mission during their spawning season from early March to June. The fishing industry of Toyama Prefecture has been dedicated to creating a safe haven for returning squids to lay their eggs. Unlike in Hyogo and other Sea of Japan prefectures where bottom trawling is common, Toyama is traditionally opting for fixed net fishing. This method, which is both ecological and effective, targets female squids after spawning as they begin their migration offshore. The nets are strategically positioned along their migration routes to gently capture the nutrient-rich but energy-depleted females at the twilight of their life cycle. Fishing operations are carefully timed to align with the squids’ predictable post-spawning movements, greatly boosting capture rates. This technique also requires less labor than open sea fishing before spawning, when the squids are widely dispersed.

Only the firefly squids truly understand why they have converged in vast numbers in Toyama Bay this year. Could this surge in migration numbers be linked to cyclical shifts in the marine food web’s predator-prey dynamics? Could it stem from favorable oceanographic conditions that enhance the plankton population those squids feed on in the deep sea, at depths of 200 to 400 meters offshore? Or might there be a profound, almost mystical pull to Toyama Bay as their chosen site to spawn and die, leaving no regrets, beyond their innate homing instinct? Might the bioluminescent signals they emit for communication be more effective, ensuring that their short life spans culminate in  successful fertilization in this region where biological integrity is prioritized? Or perhaps, could they be intrigued by the thought of how many tourists would be mesmerized by their participation in Toyama Bay's natural light display?