About the Union - Esashi Fishery Cooperative Union｜Esashi-cho Saiwai-cho, Esashi-gun, Hokkaido

Thank you very much this time for looking at the homepage of JF Esashi Gyokyo (Fishery Cooperative).

Our fishery cooperative was established in April 1949 and welcomed its 74th year this year. Our predecessors overcame many difficulties and trials up to now, and Esashi's built-up sea is here. Our program is that we will continue to hand over this fertile sea to the young generation and are strongly determined that we want to continue protecting an environment where the fishing industry can last forever into the future.

Our fishery cooperative regards the statement "We will fish by engaging in resource management where we will produce eggs and hatchlings" as the foundation of the fishing industry. Moreover, we will be thorough in our production and sales of "safe and secure" marine products and continue our efforts at improving the name recognition of "Esashi Scallops," which is registered as a regional collective trademark. Due to these efforts, it is our intention to establish stability and soundness in the management of the fishery cooperative and continue to steadily provide our consumers with marine resources.

In recent years, economic trends and the environment and international situation that surround the fishing industry have been changing daily. However, in cooperation with union members, fishery cooperative employees, and related agencies, we will continue to respond flexibly to these issues while holding up the following as our goal: "For the sake of the future of Esashi, a fertile sea and cheerful fishing village."

The town of Esashi is far away from urban areas and in a place with an inconvenient transportation system. During winter, drift ice comes alongside the piers. During summer, the temperature does not rise, and the region is cool. However, we hope from the bottom of our hearts that you will definitely come to our town and want to taste Esashi's marine products, such as horsehair crabs, scallops, and salmon.
Our fishery cooperative also carries processed goods that are freshly caught seafood that is flash frozen.
We ask that you definitely consume them and enjoy the flavors of Esashi's sea.

Philosophy

Our fishery cooperative promotes the development of an autonomic organization
with the goal of improving our economic and social standing, and increasing our production capacity.
"One for all, and all for one" is our motto for building a fair and bountiful society!

Principles

For bountiful seas,
and the brighter future of the fishing village of Esashi

In April of 1945, in accordance with the revision of fishery laws, fishery cooperative union laws were enacted, and when the fisheries association was disbanded, and the Esashi Fishery Cooperative Union was established. Since then, we have faced numerous challenges and difficulties, overcoming each and continuing to the present.
It is our job to make the oceans pioneered by our ancestors bountiful again, and to do so we must be thankful for the blessings of nature, and do everything in our power to maintain and preserve our resources.

Cooperative Movements

With a unified spirit of "autonomy, independence, and mutual aid,"
which is the basic principle of the union, we seek to make the seaside town happy and contribute to the community.

Purpose
and Mission

Improve production power of union member households and promote the fishery industry.
Improve economic and social standing of union member households.
Provide convenience as a local financial institution.

Activites

Where savings is concerned, we strictly adhere to the "JF Marine Bank Basic Policy" and safety net provided by the fishery cooperative union credit business, and thus protect the funds of our members. Where loans are concerned, there are a number of loans available through the membership fishery-related loans, members and marine mates livelihood-related loans, local public loans, and various insurance agencies that are utilized to provide the necessary funding for our members.
(Caution) JF Marine Bank basic policies are common policies regarded throughout the nation, and must be strictly obeyed by fishery cooperative unions to preserve fiscal soundness.

Current Condition of the Union (as of December 31, 2023)

Name	Esashi Fishery Cooperative Union
Location	Esashi-cho Saiwai-cho 7888, Esashi-gun, Hokkaido
Phone Number	0163-62-1285（Rep）

Established	August 2,1949
Capital	4,292 million yen
Representative	Representative of Board of Directors Chairman Kenji Sakuraba

Esashi Fishery Cooperative Union Main Office

Administration Department/Guidance Department/Trust Department/Economy Department (1F)

LocationEsashi-cho Saiwai-cho 7888, Esashi-gun, Hokkaido Google map GoogleMap

Phone Number
0163-62-1285（Rep）

Local Wholesale Fish Market

Beginning in March, king crab, horsehair crab, and scallops appear on the market, while octopus joins around May, and salmon and other Esashi products appear from around September.
Number of buyers - 41／Total area - 1569.54㎡

LocationEsashi-cho Saiwai-cho 7888, Esashi-gun, Hokkaido Google map GoogleMap

Phone Number0163-62-1440

Fishery Processing Plant

Scallops, horsehair crabs, salmon, and other fish are processed here. The processing facility for frozen scallop adductor muscles are certified according to EU HACCP, and US HACCP system.

LocationEsashi-cho Shinko-cho 7962-26, Esashi-gun, Hokkaido Google map GoogleMap

Phone Number0163-62-1540

Dried Scallop Adductor Muscle Processing Plant

Dried scallop adductor muscle production and sales are conducted here. The adductor muscles are dried in the sun during the summer.

LocationEsashi-cho Shinko-cho 7962-3, Esashi-gun, Hokkaido Google map GoogleMap

Phone Number0163-62-3711

Uotsuki-no-mori

In 2001, the Esashi Fishery Cooperative Union acquired 9.5 ha in Yamausu, and in 2013, 153 ha in Utanobori district. Ancient fishermen said, "If you want to increase the fish, you must plant trees in the mountains." It is said that, "fallen leaves become compost, then the snow falls and is packed over the soil. When the snow melts, the phytoplankton flows from the river into the sea, which becomes food for the fish. This invites bigger fish." It is our hope to utilize nature's power to increase the number of fish in the sea.

Yamausu 9.5 ha (Sakhalin spruce 5880 trees, Manchurian ash 500 trees)
Okajima Forest 36 ha man made forest/natural forest
Nishi Utanobori 153 ha natural forest 88 ha/ man made forest 32 ha
Three-year afforestation project that began in 2014 65940 trees
Utanobori Ketobetsu - profit-sharing forestry man made forest 39ha 77750 trees

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Esashi
Scallops

March - November

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12

Esashi Horsehair Crabs

March - May

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12

Salmon

September - November
Mejika Salmon
October - November

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12

Octopus

May - December

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12

King Crab

Late March - May
Etto King Crab Late
February - mid March

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12

Sea Urchin

May - June

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