MIYAKO, Iwate Prefecture--In normal years, abalone fishermen in the Tohoku region seek out their own special hot spots and compete to see who comes up with the biggest abalone as well as the most number.
MIYAKO, Iwate Prefecture--In normal years, abalone fishermen in the Tohoku region seek out their own special hot spots and compete to see who comes up with the biggest abalone as well as the most number.
However, the Great East Japan Earthquake drastically changed this year's abalone fishing season along the coast of the devastated region.
The March quake and tsunami destroyed many fishing boats, forcing abalone fishing households to double up in a single boat.
The abalone was measured on shore after the day's work was done.
The abalone season officially began on Nov. 1 but rough waves prevented fishermen from going out to sea until Nov. 18 in the area of Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, known as Omoe.
Because the amount harvested was smaller than usual, 10 kilograms sold for 158,000 yen ($2,050), about 80 percent higher than last year's prices.
According to officials of the Iwate prefectural fisheries federation, the tsunami and rubble have caused havoc on abalone fishing spots, and fishermen have decided to not harvest in eight of the 24 locations designated in the prefecture.