Catch of the Day! Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record $3 Million

Kiyoshi Kimura, also known as Japan’s Tuna King, just paid an astonishing $3 million (333.6 million yen) for a critically endangered giant bluefin tuna at Tokyo’s new fish market.

Kiyoshi Kimura, also known as Japan’s Tuna King, just paid an astonishing $3 million (333.6 million yen) for a critically endangered giant bluefin tuna at Tokyo’s new fish market.

Kimura, who owns the Japanese sushi restaurant chain Sushizanmai, told reporters he was surprised by how high the bidding rose for the 613lb  tuna, renowned for its use in sushi.

“The tuna looks so tasty and very fresh, but I think I did too much,” Kimura told reporters.  “I expected it would be between 30 million and 50 million yen, or 60 million yen at the highest, but it ended up five times more.”

The price paid for the fish comes in at around $5,000 per pound.  Bluefin tuna normally sells for up to $40 per pound but can rise to more $200 per pound.  According to the Associated Press, Kimura’s purchase more than doubles the last record bluefin tuna purchase he made back in 2013 when he paid $1.76 million for a slightly smaller fish.

According to the World Wild Fund for Nature, bluefin tuna – the world’s largest tuna – has become critically endangered over recent years due to overfishing.  Spurred on by the high prices bluefin tuna can fetch at market, fishermen are implementing technologically advanced techniques to catch the prized fish.