Tuna Auctions at Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo
Context
Story:
Tuna auction at the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market or Tsukiji Fish Market. It's the largest fish market in the world, handling 2000 tonnes of seafood every day, with around 60,000 employees.
From mid-December 2008 to late January 2009, market authorities banned visitors to the market, because of alleged chaos and misbehaviour, apparently by foreign tourists. This included drunkness, getting in the way of employees, and touching the fish.
Of 23 commercially exploited tuna stocks, nine are thought to be fully fished, another four are thought to be overexploited or depleted, three are are critically endangered, three are endangered and finally, three are vulnerable to extinction.
In early January, one single bluefin tuna, weighing 128kg was sold for $153,000 at Tsukiji. Japan is the world's largest consumer of fish.
Contributor: davewalsh
Date: 8 December 2008
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