Nothing fishy about $736,700 bid for tuna

TOKYO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A big bluefin tuna, tipping the scales at more than 593 pounds, brought in the big bucks -- $736,700 -- at auction at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market Thursday.

The sale, valuing each kilogram of the fish at roughly $2,736, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The bumper bluefin was caught off the coast of northern Oma in Aomori prefecture.

The auction winner was Kiyomura Co., the Tokyo-based operator of Sushi Zanmai, a casual restaurant chain.

The reason for the big bid is simple, Kiyomura President Kiyoshi Kimura said. What's caught locally should be eaten locally.

"Rather than having it taken away overseas, I wish for Japanese people to eat good tuna together. Despite the March 11 earthquake and the sluggish economy I want to lift up Japan's spirits urging people to work hard together," Kimura said after landing the big fish purchase.