However, dolphinfish have less value economically than tuna, bonito, and herring in Japan and, as such, are not as frequently caught. Both species are often exploited by taking advantage of behaviour aggregates under floating devices (Scientia Marina 1999), behaviour also found in other fish species, especially in their juvenile stage. Dolphinfish migrate in groups from May to December and move northward (agari shiira) in waters around Japan during the summer season, moving south (modori shiira) again after late summer.ĭolphinfish are an extremely valuable resource for small-scale fisheries and are popular among recreational fishers in Japan. They originate in the Pacific, are found widely in tropical and sub-tropical seas, and reach approximately 0.5m to 2m in length.
In general, the warm water surface fish arrive from the south, while the colder water fish arrive from the north.ĭolphinfish (Coryphaenidae) consist of two subspecies in Japan: Coryphaena hippurus and C. These include: 1) fish found in the warm Kuroshio Current, such as tuna, bonito, yellowtail, Spanish mackerel, sword fish, dolphinfish, and flying fish and 2) fish found in the cold Oyashio Current, such as saury, herring, and salmon. In total, there are 350 species of endemic fish and two types of migratory fish. The Japanese Archipelago is situated along the northwestern Pacific Rim, at the juncture where numerous species of migratory fish pass through nearby waters. What is the history behind human exploitation of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), and why were they so sought after by groups in the Pacific over such long periods of time (Figure 1)? The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between humans and dolphinfish, a highly migratory species that requires trolling technologies in order to catch.įigure 1. Hashimura Osamu, Tokyo Gakugei University, Faculty of Education, Japan The History and Culture of Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) Exploitation in Japan, East Asia, and the Pacific Territoriality in a Philippine Fishing Village: Implications for Coastal Resource Management.Marine Resource Use in Transition: Modern Fishing in Tonga, Western Polynesia.The Technique and Ecology Surrounding Moray Fishing: A Case Study of Moray Trap Fishing on Mactan Island, Philippines.Oceanic Encounter with the Japanese: An Outrigger Canoe-Fishing Gear Complex in the Bonin Islands and Hachijo-Jima Island.The History and Culture of Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) Exploitation in Japan, East Asia, and the Pacific.
Exploring the Social Context of Maritime Exploitation in Tanzania between the 14th-18th c.Red Abalone, Sea Otters, and Kelp Forest Ecosystems on Historic Period San Miguel Island, California.Historical Ecology and 600 Years of Fish Use on Atafu Atoll, Tokelau.Pelagic Fishing in the Mariana Archipelago: From the Prehistoric Period to the Present.New Flesh for Old Bones: Using Modern Reef Fish to Understand Midden Remains from Guam, Mariana Islands.Prehistoric Marine Resource Use in the Indo-Pacific Regions