View source for Pacific saury

{{short description|Species of fish}}
{{distinguish|text=the [[saury]] (Cololabis adocetus)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Sanma01.jpg
| image2 = Sanma by beemartins in Matsushima, Miyagi.jpg
| taxon = Cololabis saira
| authority = ([[James Carson Brevoort|Brevoort]], 1856)
| synonyms = *''Scomberesox saira'' <small>Brevoort, 1856</small>
* ''Scombresox brevirostris'' <small>[[Wilhelm Peters|Peters]], 1866</small>
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Cololabis|saira|month=April|year=2019}}</ref>
}}

The '''Pacific saury''' (''Cololabis saira'') is species of fish in the family [[Scomberesocidae]]. Saury is a seafood in several East Asian cuisines and is also known by the name '''mackerel pike'''.

== Biology ==
[[File:Pacific saury dried overnight.jpg|thumb|left|Drying pacific saury]]
Saury is a fish with a small mouth, an elongated body, a series of small [[fish anatomy|finlet]]s between the [[dorsal fin|dorsal]] and [[anal fin]]s, and a small forked [[tail]]. The fish's color is dark green to blue on the dorsal surface, silvery below, and there are small, bright blue blotches distributed randomly on the sides.<ref name="Fishbase" />

It is typically about {{convert|25|-|30|cm|in|abbr=off}} long when caught, but it can grow up to {{convert|40|cm|in|abbr=off}} long and about {{convert|180|g|oz|abbr=off}} when caught in the autumn. The life expectancy of Saury is approximately four years. Saury is a pelagic fish typically found and harvested close to the surface, but it can also be found down to depths of up to {{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=off}}. When saury is escaping from predators, it floats on the surface and is similar to other fishes within the genus.

These [[pelagic]] [[Shoaling and schooling|schooling]] fish are found in the North Pacific, from China, [[Korea]] and Japan eastward to the [[Gulf of Alaska]] and southward to sub-tropical Mexico,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cololabis saira, Pacific saury : fisheries |url=https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Cololabis-saira.html |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=www.fishbase.se}}</ref> preferring temperatures around {{convert|15|-|18|C|F|abbr=off}}.

The Pacific saury is a highly [[Fish migration|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 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 [[larva]]e of common fish, such as [[anchovies]], due to their lack of [[stomach]], and their short straight [[intestine]]s {{Citation needed|date=April 2014}}. The internal organs of the saury may contain small, red, earthworm-like parasites named [[Rhadinorhynchus]] ''selkirki''; these are harmless.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

A few of the natural [[predator]]s of Pacific saury include [[marine mammal]]s, [[squid]] and [[tuna]].

Saury oil contains considerable levels of n-3 unsaturated fatty acids ([[Polyunsaturated fatty acid|PUFA]]) and long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (LCMUFA) with [[Aliphatic compound|aliphatic]] tails longer than 18 carbons.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Long-term dietary supplementation with saury oil attenuates metabolic abnormalities in mice fed a high-fat diet: combined beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids and long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids|author1=Yang, Z|author2=Inuoe, S|author3=Taniguchi, Y|author4=Miyahara, H|author5=Iwasaki, Y|author6=Takeo, J|author7=Sakaue, H|author8=Nakaya, Y|journal=Lipids in Health and Disease|volume=14|date=2015|page=155 |doi=10.1186/s12944-015-0161-8|pmid=26627187 |pmc=4666194 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

== Uses ==
=== Japan ===
[[File:サンマの塩焼き - 1.jpg|thumb|Grilled ''sanma'' as part of a meal with rice, [[miso soup]], and [[nimono]]]]
[[File:Wakisashi-IMG 4686-87-88.jpg|thumb|The name (秋刀魚 "autumn knife fish") comes from the shape and color of a ''[[katana]]''  sword]]
Pacific saury is known as ''sanma'' (さんま/サンマ) or ''saira'' (さいら/サイラ) in Japanese. The [[kanji]] used in the Japanese name of the fish (秋刀魚) literally translates as "autumn knife fish," as its body shape resembles a [[Wakizashi|katana]].

Saury is one of the most prominent [[seasonal food]]s representing autumn in [[Japanese cuisine]]. It is most commonly served salted and [[grilling|grilled]] (broiled) whole, garnished with ''daikon oroshi'' (grated [[daikon]]) and served alongside a bowl of rice and a bowl of [[miso soup]]. Other condiments may include [[soy sauce]], [[sudachi]], [[lime (fruit)|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.

It also has many small bones, though not as many as sardines. Saury festivals are held in various parts of Japan, such as the [[Meguro|Meguro Autumn Sanma Festival]].

''Sanma'' [[sashimi]] 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 (depending on the region, bitter orange or citron vinegar may be used), and then placing it on top of vinegared rice to create the finished sushi.

The fish can also be pan-fried or canned [[kabayaki]].

<gallery mode="packed" widths="150px" heights="150px">
Sanma zushi.JPG|As [[sushi]]
Sanma sashimi by jetalone in Kushiro, Hokkaido.jpg|As [[sashimi]]
Samma Shio-yaki (15121293398).jpg|Grilled with salt
Sanma-2.jpg|''Sanma'' festival in [[Meguro]]
</gallery>

=== Korea ===
[[File:Gwamegi.jpg|thumb|Korean ''[[gwamegi]]'']]
Pacific saury is called ''kkongchi'' ({{Korean|hangul=꽁치|labels=no}}) in [[Korean language|Korean]].

[[Gwamegi]] is a [[Korean cuisine|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 ({{Korean/auto|꽁치_조림|rr=yes}}) is a common variety of ''[[jorim]]'' (Korean simmered foods). Salt-grilled saury is known as ''kkongchi gui'' ({{Korean|hangul=꽁치구이|labels=no}}) in Korea.

=== Russia ===
[[File:Open can of saury.jpg|thumb|Open can of saury]]
Called ''saira'' (сайра) in Russian, Pacific saury is popular in [[Russian cuisine|Russia]], which directly access the Pacific Ocean. In Russia, it is sold [[Canned fish|canned]] with salt and spice, sometimes with the addition of [[vegetable oil]] or [[tomato sauce]]. It is also eaten smoked.

=== United Kingdom ===
Pacific saury is 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]].

== Fishing ==
[[File:RIAN archive 50343 Pacific saury processing.jpg|thumb|Processing pacific saury on [[Shikotan]] Island, 1969]]
[[File:Pacific saury, capture production, thousand tonnes, 1950-2022.svg|thumb|Global capture production of Pacific saury (''Cololabis saira'') in thousand tonnes from 1950 to 2022, as reported by the [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fisheries and Aquaculture - Global Production |url=https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/collection/global_production?lang=en |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)}}</ref>]]
Around 1950, Japan caught about 98% of the catch and South Korea about 2%, but Japan's catch share has decreased proportionally in recent decades. Other nations that fish saury now include China and [[Taiwan]]. The [[Soviet Union]] fished saury around 1960 until the dissolution of the country. Taiwan began fishing for saury around 1988 and has been expanding its catch. In 2002, the Chinese also started fishing for saury, and they have been catching over 100,000 tons a year.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Approximately ninety Taiwanese vessels participate in the long distance North Pacific fishery. Taiwan's total Pacific saury landings were 30k metric tons in 2021 and 40k metric tons in 2022. Boats in the Taiwanese saury fishery have been transitioning from incandescent and [[high-intensity discharge]] (HID) light bulbs to [[light emitting diodes]] (LED) which allows them for an environmental impact reduction.<ref name="Focus Taiwan Saury LED" >{{cite web |last1=Chiao-lien |first1=Lin |last2=Lin |first2=Ko |title=Majority of Taiwan's saury fishing boats switch to LEDs |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202312050019 |website=focustaiwan.tw |date=5 December 2023 |publisher=Focus Taiwan |access-date=6 December 2023}}</ref>
{{clear}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Sanma 001.jpg|Charcoal‐grilled on a ''[[shichirin]]''
File:Sanma, miso soup, rice and tea by nanaow2006.jpg|With [[miso soup]] and rice
File:Kkongchi-jorim.jpg|''Kkongchi-[[jorim]]''
Conservirovannaya saira na.jpg|Tinned Pacific saury produced in Russia
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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{{commercial fish topics}}
{{Seafood}}
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[[Category:Cololabis]]
[[Category:Commercial fish]]
[[Category:Fish of the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Japanese seafood]]
[[Category:Japanese cuisine]]
[[Category:Korean cuisine]]
[[Category:Russian cuisine]]
[[Category:Soviet cuisine]]
[[Category:Fish of Korea]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1856]]
[[Category:Taxa named by J. Carson Brevoort]]