Utase-bune shrimp fishing boats bathed in the rising sun on June 30, Notsuke Bay, Betsukai Town, Hokkaido.
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The summer season for Hokkai shrimp fishing began early on the morning of June 30 in Notsuke Bay, a shallow inlet in Betsukai Town in eastern Hokkaido. This traditional fishery dates back to the Meiji era (1868–1912).
Sails on the Morning Sea
Eelgrass in the bay provides vital habitat for the shrimp. To protect it, fishermen turn off their boat propellers and rely on wind and tidal currents to tow their nets.
The fishermen's utase-bune, with their white triangular sails, drifted gently across the bay under the soft morning sun.
A Promising Catch
Fisherman Masahiro Takio commented, "The shrimp are bigger than I expected — really good. They're delicious raw or boiled." Onboard, the catch is carefully sorted, and any shrimp under 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) are returned to the sea to help preserve the stock.
According to the Notsuke Fisheries Cooperative, the shrimp fishing season is held twice a year, once in summer and again in autumn. This summer's season is scheduled to run until July 18, with an expected haul of around 8 tons.
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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