APPENDIX IV APPENDIX IV 
Even though Japan's fisheries have produced record 
catches in recent years, they cannot satisfy the country's 
demand for fish, particularly of the luxury-type species. 
Japanese consumption of meat and poultry has increased over 
the past several years; however, their dependence on fish as 
a source of nourishment is still very high. 
In the course of Japan's distribution and marketing pro- 
cesses, the fish product passes through numerous intermedia- 
ries before reaching the consumer. With the exception of the 
large fishing companies' catches, fish landed at coastal 
fishing ports are first auctioned to wholesalers at producing- 
center markets. The wholesalers separate the catches for 
local consumption, shipment to large cities, and for proces- 
sing and freezing. Fish transported by cold storage trucks 
and trains to large cities are again auctioned to consumer- 
market wholesalers, who distribute the fish products to 
Japan's more than 50,000 retailers. The price differential 
between the wholesaler and retailer varies from 25 to 180 
peneent. 
Recently, most fish arriving at large city wholesale 
markets is in frozen form. This trend has aided in the pre- 
servation of quality and the stabilization of supply. Also, 
the marketing of prepackaged frozen fishery foods is increas- 
ing. 
The trend in Japanese consumer prices for fishery pro- 
ducts shows a definite increase in comparison with the gen- 
eral consumer price index. In 1965 the general consumer 
price index of 100 increased to 144.6 in 1972. During that 
same period the price index for fresh fish and shellfish in- 
creased to 218.8. This trend is expected to continue, but at 
a slower rate. Future increases in consumer prices will 
probably be necessary to restore the financial health of the 
country's fishing industries. 
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS 
Since 1971 Japan has been a net importer of fish pro- 
ducts, with the value of fish imports increasing 244 percent 
between 1969 and 1974. According to an importer's associa- 
tion official, the Japanese Government is not concerned about 
this trade imbalance, because fisheries' products represent 
only 2.5 percent of total imports. 
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