Local News

Both Fukuoka Prefecture and Saga Prefecture had their lowest harvests ever of the fan shell, a prized bivalve from the Ariake Sea, it was reported. The season for the shellfish was from last December 20 to the end of March, but few were found, and the harvest came to a de facto end soon after it began. The Saga Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative said that nine fishing boats altogether brought back only 1.29 kilograms of the shells on the first day. During the season, many boats returned to port early without having caught any at all.