thevitalia.com

Ever wondered why sushi and sashimi are pricey? It’s because the main ingredient, tuna, is expensive. Bluefin tuna is the world’s most costly fish; its price ranges from $20 to $200 per kilogram (2.2 pounds). There are other less pricey varieties of fresh tuna, like yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, bigeye, and albacore.

What makes this celebrity seafood so expensive? It’s a combination of several factors. They include nutritious values, limited supply, high global demand, and special fishing techniques. 

It’s World Tuna Day; read on to learn the reasons tuna is so expensive.

Reasons Tuna Is So Expensive

1. High Demand for Tuna

Tuna is highly sought after and is the main ingredient in sushi and sashimi. These famous Japanese dishes have gained global popularity. This has led to an increase in demand for raw tuna, which drives up the market price.

Also, tuna is healthy and very nutritious. It is rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Because of this, along with marketing efforts by retailers, there’s been an increase in demand.

However, there’s a limited supply of tuna because of the declining population. This shortfall in demand and supply leads to scarcity, which gives tuna its premium price.

Also Read: The Benefits of Pulses Food for You and the Environment

2. Overfishing of Tuna

Overfishing has reduced tuna populations, making it more difficult to catch and resulting in a limited supply.

Meanwhile, it takes several years for tuna to reach maturity, depending on the species. Bluefin takes 8–10 years, albacore takes 5–6 years, and others take around 2–3 years.

 The only other comparable kinds of seafood are salmon and whitefish (cod), which take 3–5 years to mature. This makes it difficult to revive the dwindling tuna population quickly.

As a result, the tuna industry is subject to strict regulations for its sustainability. They include catch quotas, seasonal closures, tuna size limits, and marine protected areas. 

However, there are financial implications that come with complying with these regulations. They increase operational costs, which further drive up the market price of tuna.

3. Quality Standards

To be classified as high quality, tuna must meet certain criteria. The color must be bright, and the texture has to be firm with well-defined muscle fibers. The eyes have to be clear and bright, and the smell has to be mild and oceanic. 

You’ll agree that this is a premium checklist, and that’s one reason tuna is so expensive. Maintaining these quality standards requires proper handling, storage, and a short transit time. These costs add up, making this seafood costly.

Besides these, some species of tuna are remarkable and precious for their rich flavor, texture, and fat content. These values drive up the cost of tuna, especially bluefin tuna.

4. Processing Costs

This fish needs strict measures to keep it fresh and prevent spoilage. Apart from this, it requires special skills to process, clean, and package. 

Being a valuable fish, workers must cut waste by carefully trimming and separating cuts for different uses. They debone and skin the fish, all by hand. This helps to preserve the texture, but it is also time-consuming. 

All these processes are labor-intensive, and they add to the cost of tuna.

Similarly, the cost of transportation increases its price. As with any fresh fish, tuna has a short shelf life. To keep its appeal, it must leave the fishing grounds for quick processing. This requires express delivery or fast transportation, which is expensive, unlike regular transport. 

5. Storage and Refrigeration Expenses for Fresh Tuna

A cold chain is essential to keep tuna fresh from the ocean to the dish. This involves refrigeration of the fishing vessels during transportation and at processing plants. 

The retail shops also need to maintain the cold chain. Acquiring this infrastructure is expensive, as is its maintenance. They also consume a lot of energy, and the consumers bear these costs. This can be significant because of the distant waters where tuna fishing takes place.

6. Environmental Concerns

Tuna fishing impacts marine ecosystems. That’s because of the loss of biodiversity that arises from bycatch. This is the accidental catch of non-targeted sea animals and can include endangered species like sea turtles and sharks.

In curbing these, tuna fishers use alternative fishing methods to meet tuna fishing practices. They make use of specialized techniques and modified gears. This increases the cost of harvesting and slows the fishing process. 

They also have to invest in technology, training, certification, and traceability. These cost a pretty sum, and they take effort and resources.

In addition, tuna is a top predator, and its depletion disrupts the food webs, creating an imbalance in the marine ecosystem.

Also Read: The Importance of Wildlife: No Exaggeration

7. Global Market Trends

Because of the global demand for tuna and the limitations of where it is found, many countries rely on imported tuna. 

This increases the cost of tuna in the event of fluctuations in currency exchange rates. That’s because if the importing country has a weaker currency than the exporting country, the cost of importation will be high. This translates to a higher price for tuna consumers. This is besides other tariffs and duties.

 Also, international trade agreements contribute to the short-term supply of tuna. This makes the cost of tuna high for consumers.

Tuna, the Premium Seafood

This seafood takes a lot of effort to move from the water to your plate. Although some might say it is overrated, its nutritional benefits are real. Now you know why tuna is so expensive.

Also Read: 12 Diseases of Global Concern and Contributing Habits