2017 bluefin tuna season first tuna auction won with a total bid of 1.57 million

The result of the "first tuna" auction for the 2017 Pingtung Bluefin Tuna Cultural Tourism Season is out! The Pingtung County Government and the Donggang District Fishermen's Association held the auction on the 24th. This year's first tuna weighed 231.4 kg in total and was won by Donggang Jiazhen Seafood Restaurant at 6,800 yuan per kg, for a total price of 1,573,520 yuan. This was also the 9th time that Xiao Shoufa, owner of Jiazhen Seafood Restaurant, has won the first tuna.

The first tuna auction of the bluefin tuna season has been held since 2001. This year's first tuna was taken by the Donggang-registered fishing boat "Dehongfa No." The captain, Li Wende, who has 45 years of fishing experience, caught the first tuna for the first time, and it was also the 4th consecutive year that a Donggang-registered fishing boat took first place. However, Captain Li Wende was originally from Xinyuan Township. When the Dehongfa No. entered port, the sound of firecrackers was deafening, and the whole venue erupted in enthusiastic applause.

The auction was held at the Donggang Fish Market and attracted a large crowd eager to see the "first tuna" and the auction spectacle. County Magistrate Pan Meng'an served as auctioneer. Fisheries Agency Deputy Director-General Wang Zhengfang, former Speaker Lin Qingdu, County Councilor Lin Cai Fengmei, Donggang Township Mayor Xu Zhixiong and representatives from various sectors attended. The organizers also incorporated the "anime" element most loved by younger groups, with the super cute Donggang sakura shrimp girl Xuan Ying, as well as characters from the cartoon One Piece taking photos and interacting with the public up close. Around the stage were food markets from local businesses, offering free tastings of limited-edition sashimi and specialty foods and other activities, heating up the atmosphere on site.

In addition, the county government will hold the tuna season opening gala in front of Donglong Temple in Donggang at 7 p.m. on May 6 (Saturday), inviting singers to perform one after another; at 6 p.m. on June 17 (Saturday), there will also be a limited 100-table snack banquet for members of the public who sign up! In addition, during the event period, many dazzling light decorations will adorn the Donggang Canal. For details, please check the Pingtung County Government official website, "2017 Pingtung Bluefin Tuna Cultural Tourism Season" or the "i Pingtung" Facebook fan page.