A fishing port facing Toyama Bay on the Sea of Japan held the season's first auction of broad velvet shrimp on Saturday.

The season for the variety, also known as Japanese glass shrimp, opened that day. The transparent, pinkish seafood called the "jewel of Toyama Bay" is caught mostly in the region.

The season's first catch was unloaded on Saturday morning at Shinminato port in Toyama Prefecture's Imizu City.

The shrimp were 4 to 5 centimeters long, slightly smaller than the average size in a usual year. The first haul immediately went up for auction.

A local fisheries association says about 2.1 tons of the shrimp was unloaded on the first day of the season, which saw good weather and calm waters.

Demand for Japanese glass shrimp fell for the last three years as people refrained from dining out due to the coronavirus pandemic. That sent shrimp prices plunging.

But the association says demand is expected to recover this year.

Fishing boat owner Noguchi Kazuhiro said the season's opening day is like New Year's Day for fishers. He said he wants people across the country to come to Toyama and enjoy the shrimp.

Shrimp season peaks through July and August, and continues until November.