It is known as sanma and saira in Japanese, kkongchi in Korean, Pinyin: qiū dāo yú in Chinese, and saira in Russian. The term saira used in its scientific name is the fish's local name in the Kii Peninsula region of Japan. The Kanji used in the Japanese name of the fish literally translates as "autumn knife fish", in reference to its body shape, somewhat resembling a katana, and its peak season.This name was born in Japan and it was derived from Japanese to Chinese. The name saira also changed from Japanese to scientific name and Russian. Pacific saury are often imported to the United Kingdom where they are used as bait for pike and sea fishing. In the UK they are usually called blueys, possibly due to people confusing the Pacific saury with blue mackerel.
Appearance
It is a fish with a small mouth, an elongated body, a series of small finlets between the dorsal and anal fins, and a small forked tail. The color of the fish is dark green to blue on the dorsal surface, silvery below, and there are small, bright blue blotches distributed randomly on the sides. The average overall body length of a mature Pacific saury is 25 to 28 cm, and their maximum reported age is four years.
Biology
These pelagicschooling fish are found in the North Pacific, from Korea and Japan eastward to the Gulf of Alaska and southward to subtropical Mexico; 67°N – 18°N, 137°E – 108°W, preferring temperatures around 15 – 18 °C. Pacific saury are usually found near the surface, and they are known to glide above the surface of the water when moving away from predators. The Pacific saury is a highly migratory species. Adults are generally found offshore, near the surface of the ocean, in schools. Juveniles associate with drifting seaweed. Pacific saury are oviparous. Eggs are attached to one another and to floating objects such as seaweed via filaments on the shell surface. The saury feeds on zooplankton, such as copepods, krill, amphipods, and the eggs and larvae of common fish, such as anchovies, due to their lack of stomach, and their short straight intestines. This is much different from its counterpart the Northern Pike. This is most likely due to the great size difference. A few of the natural predators of Pacific saury include marine mammals, squid and tuna.
Trade
Pacific saury are sought after by Chinese, Taiwanese, Russian, North Korean, South Korean, and Japanese fishermen. This fish has great economic importance where it is found. Fishing of saury is facilitated by their attraction to light. So, a common way of catching them is to affix powerful lighting fixtures with a number of 500 W blue or white lamps to one side of a boat, and some weaker red lamps to the other. When fish congregate under the stronger white lamps, the lighting is switched to the other side, where the fish – often the whole school – are collected in nets.
Cuisine
Saury, or sanma, is one of the most prominent seasonal foods representing autumn in Japanese cuisine. It is most commonly served salted and grilled whole, garnished with daikon oroshi and served alongside a bowl of rice and a bowl of miso soup. Other condiments may include soy sauce, sudachi, lime, lemon, or other citrus juices. The intestines are bitter, but many people choose not to gut the fish, as many say its bitterness, balanced by the condiments, is part of the enjoyment. Salt-grilled saury is also served in Korea, where it is known as kkongchi gui. Sanmasashimi is becoming increasingly available but is not common. Although rarely used for sushi, sanma-zushi is a regional delicacy along parts of the Kii Peninsula, especially along the coast of southern Mie Prefecture. It is prepared by pickling the saury in salt and vinegar, and then placing it on top of vinegared rice to create the finished sushi. The fish can also be pan-fried or canned kabayaki. Gwamegi is a Korean dish of half-dried Pacific saury made during winter. It is mostly eaten in the region of North Gyeongsang Province in places such as Pohang, Uljin, and Yeongdeok, where a large amount of the fish are harvested. Simmered saury is a common variety of jorim, Korean traditional simmered foods. Pacific saury is also popular in Russia which has direct access to the Pacific Ocean. In Russia it is sold in tinned variant with salt and spice, sometimes with addition of vegetable oil or tomato sauce. It is also eaten smoked. In some Western countries it is used for fish meal and pet food.
