Breaking: Northeast Asia Sardine Crisis Deepens – Japan's Worst Season in 25 Years

Zero Catch in Hokkaido

According to Fishnews (Nov 5, 2026), fishermen off eastern Hokkaido have failed to catch a single sardine (Ivasi) for the first time in 25 years. The collapse has forced local fishmeal processing plants to shut down. Operators call this the most failed season in a quarter-century—a shocking contrast to 2019–2024, when annual catches averaged 200,000 tons.

Scientific Surveys Confirm Absence

From October 15–21, surveys at seven coastal stations off eastern Hokkaido caught zero sardines. Researchers note the strengthening influence of the cold Oyashio current, but emphasize that disentangling oceanographic shifts from stock depletion remains a scientific challenge.

Biomass Crash & Drastic Quota Cut

• 2022 Biomass: >5 million tons
• 2025 Biomass: 1.69 million tons (with deteriorating spawning conditions)
• 2026 TAC: 661,000 tons
• 2027 Proposed TAC: 162,000 tons (a 75% reduction proposed by Japan's Fisheries Agency)

Russian Fisheries Also Struggling

The crisis is not limited to Japan. Russian fishermen have faced two difficult years:

• South Kuril Islands: No operations this year; fishing shifted to the Sea of Japan.
• Expert Analysis: Russian scientists link reduced sardine arrivals near the Kurils to the Oyashio current's first branch development and late spawning along Japan's Pacific coast.