• A bluefin tuna sold for $3.2 million at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market
• The fish, weighing 243 kg, was caught off the coast of Oma, Japan
• Kiyoshi Kimura's Kiyomura Corp. set a new auction record, surpassing 2019's price
• The tuna symbolizes both luxury and the recovery of bluefin stocks

A Japanese sushi entrepreneur made headlines when he paid a record 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million) for a bluefin tuna at the first auction of the year at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market. This auction, which began at 5 a.m., featured the prized 243-kilogram fish caught off the coast of Oma, a region recognized for its high-quality tuna. The winning bid eclipsed the previous high, marking a significant moment in auction history, according to South China Morning Post and India Times.

The tuna was bought by Kiyomura Corp., led by Kiyoshi Kimura, known for his enthusiastic bidding style at these annual auctions. Despite expecting to pay less, Kimura admitted that the price escalated quickly during the auction, which is celebrated for its prominence and luck-filled symbolism. “I was hoping it would be cheaper,” he stated, highlighting the intense competition at the auction, according to India Times and Anadolu Agency.

This year's auction price is not only a record but also reflects ongoing efforts towards the conservation of Pacific bluefin tuna, a species that faced significant threats due to overfishing. Dave Gershman from the Pew Charitable Trusts noted that stocks of Pacific bluefin tuna are improving after years of conservation efforts, making this record sale a hopeful sign for the future of the species, according to South China Morning Post and India Times.