Northeast tuna season opens with first bluefin sold for more than NT$1.8 million
The first Pacific bluefin tuna caught off Taiwan’s northeast coast this year sold at auction for a total price of NT$1,897,000 million at Nanfang Harbor, Port of Su’ao, in Yilan County this morning, April 21.
The 271 kilogram fish opened with starting bid of NT$5,600 per kilogram, and was finally sold at NT$7,000 per kilogram to Taipei restaurant Sando House. The price was considerably lower than the NT$8,600 per kilo paid for the first catch last year, also purchased by Sando House.
Yilan County Mayor Lin Zi-miao presided over the auction via video.
The first to be auctioned, the tuna was one of two caught by the Su’ao fishing boat Yushunji No.66 on April 18. Captain of the Yushunji No.66, Dong Kunxian, said that it was the first time he had caught the season’s first tuna in his more than 30 years fishing.
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