Not Just Shark Fin! Supporting Regional Fisheries Revitalization with 'Mozai Ichiba Shark Snacks' Made from Shark Meat

Mozai Ichiba Shark Snacks using shark landed at Kesennuma Port.

Oyatsu Company Inc. (Head Office: Tsu City, Mie Prefecture; President and CEO: Masashi Yokoyama) is promoting the 'Mottainai Osakana Katsuyo Keikaku' (Wasteful Fish Utilization Plan) project, which supports sustainable fisheries by focusing on 'low-circulation fish' that are not well-known, have limited distribution, and are rarely consumed. The project aims to communicate their appeal through products.

As the second phase of this project, we are focusing on the 'meat' of sharks, famous for 'shark fin.' In collaboration with Murata Co., Ltd., a seafood processing company in Kesennuma that has preserved its shark culture since the Edo period and effectively utilizes the meat, cartilage, and skin, we have developed 'Mozai Ichiba Shark Snacks (Karaage Flavor)' as a limited-time product in the popular 'Mozai Ichiba' series, which allows consumers to easily obtain the nutritional value of seafood in a snack format. This product aims to convey the deliciousness of shark meat nationwide and will be released for a limited time starting July 6, 2026 (Mon).

Mottainai Osakana Katsuyo Keikaku

What is the 'Mottainai Osakana Katsuyo Keikaku'?

The 'Mottainai Osakana Katsuyo Keikaku' is a project that supports sustainable fisheries by effectively utilizing fish that are delicious but not widely distributed due to lack of recognition, and by communicating their appeal through products.

This project leverages over 65 years of snack manufacturing expertise to develop and sell products that utilize low-circulation fish as familiar 'snacks.' It aims to solve various issues such as promoting fish consumption, further promoting the utilization of low-circulation fish, revitalizing regional fisheries, maintaining ecological balance, and reducing food loss, thereby challenging to connect sustainable fisheries and abundant seas to the future.

The second product of this project, 'Mozai Ichiba Shark Snacks,' focuses on the 'meat' of sharks, which are famous for 'shark fin.' In collaboration with 'Murata Co., Ltd.,' a seafood processing company in Kesennuma, known as the 'City of Sharks,' which strives to create value from regional resources by effectively utilizing shark meat, cartilage, and skin, this snack confection was developed as part of an initiative to create further value through the effective utilization of shark resources.

Snack Confectionery Using Mako Shark Landed at Kesennuma Port

The product development began in response to a request from 'Sakana-kun,' the ambassador for Mozai Ichiba, who wanted to make 'shark,' which is not easily distributed as a food ingredient, into an easy-to-eat and delicious 'snack.' After more than a year of development, the product will be released starting July 6, 2026 (Mon) at convenience stores in the Tohoku region, followed by supermarkets nationwide from July 27, 2026 (Mon).

Kesennuma City boasts the largest shark landing volume in Japan, and since the Edo period, parts other than the fins have been effectively utilized in products like fish paste. However, due to the low recognition of shark meat nationwide, it has been difficult to sell at appropriate prices that include the costs of fishing and processing, leading to struggles. We learned of this situation.

At the same time, Kesennuma faces the problem of declining catches due to the aging of fishermen and a lack of successors. By promoting the appeal of shark through products of the 'Mottainai Osakana Katsuyo Keikaku,' we aim not only to promote fish consumption but also to revitalize Kesennuma's fisheries by increasing the recognition and value of shark meat, which led to the commercialization of this product.

In 'Mozai Ichiba Shark Snacks,' the shark meat is kneaded into the dough, allowing you to fully enjoy the umami of the shark. The seasoning is a 'karaage flavor' that is loved by everyone from children to adults. It is a taste that enhances the umami of the shark, making it perfect as a snack or an accompaniment to drinks. The crispy and light texture, typical of snacks, is also delicious, resulting in a healthy fish snack that can be enjoyed casually while also providing calcium.

【Product Overview】

Product Name: Mozai Ichiba Shark Snacks (Karaage Flavor)

Contents: 61g

Price: Open price (Estimated retail price: around 152 yen including tax)

Release Date: July 6, 2026 (Mon) at convenience stores in the Tohoku region

July 27, 2026 (Mon) at supermarkets nationwide, etc.

*Availability may vary by retailer and store.

Challenge to Connect Japan's Abundant Seas to the Next Generation

Through this product, we are engaged in activities to help children who will lead Japan's future feel more familiar with Japan's seas, fish, and fisheries.

On June 3, 2026 (Wed), we paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Shigeru Sugawara of Kesennuma City along with Murata Co., Ltd., a seafood processing company in Kesennuma. Mayor Sugawara commented, 'This is an easy-to-eat and delicious snack. We hope that by catching the eye of many people, sharks will become familiar not only to the citizens of Kesennuma but also nationwide.'

On July 8, 2026 (Wed), we are scheduled to conduct an outreach class on the theme of 'Kesennuma's Sharks' at two elementary schools in Kesennuma City.

Sharks actually have a lean, high-quality meat that has the potential to be used in various dishes. It's a waste to not eat them just because they have a scary image! To connect our abundant fishery resources to the future, why not start by eating fish through familiar snack foods?