food culture

Kochi Fishermen Face Plummeting Kibinago Catch, a Traditional Mother's Delicacy

Sukumo Bay in Kochi Prefecture is famed for Kibinago, a small fish used in the traditional dish 'Kibinago no hōkaburi', passed down from mother to child. Declining catches due to climate change, warmer waters, and overfishing have alarmed local fishermen, who are striving to sustain both their livelihood and the region's culinary heritage.