Japan Quake Affecting US Sushi Prices?

Los Angeles - The Japan quake and tsunami have taken a toll on the Japanese fishing industry, which could translate into higher prices for fish at restaurants and sushi bars here in the United States.

FOX 11's Hal Eisner has the story in the video report.

Story Script:

THE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI... A HUMAN TRAGEDY. WATER RUSHED ONSHORE, TAKING HOMES, CARS, PEOPLE, BOATS.

SEA LIFE WAS ALSO AFFECTED.

NOBI KUSHUHARA
"NOT ONLY DID WATER COME TO THE LAND WE GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE OCEAN AGAIN ... POLLUTING THE OCEAN."

NOBI KUSHUHARA OWNS SASABUNE, A SUSHI RESTAURANT IN WEST LOS ANGELES. FOR YEARS HE WORKED IN TOKYO'S MAJOR SEAFOOD MARKET SELLING FISH. EVERY MORNING, FISH, BROUGHT FROM ALL OVER JAPAN, WOULD BE SOLD AND AUCTIONED OFF.

NOW KUSHUHARA GOES TO LA-AREA WHOLESALE MARKETS TO GET HIS FISH FOR HIS RESTAURANT.

NOBI KUSHUHARA
"THIS YELLOWTAIL IS FROM JAPAN. AND, THIS IS FROM IS SPANISH MACKEREL. IT COMES FROM KYUSHU ISLAND WHICH IS SOUTH OF JAPAN."

SOME LOCAL WHOLESALERS WE SPOKE WITH SAY BECAUSE OF THE CATASTROPHE IN NORTHERN JAPAN, THEY MIGHT BE WARY ABOUT BUYING JAPANESE SEAFOOD.

JOHN KAGAWA, PRESIDENT, FISH KING
"… MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT PRODUCT COMING FROM JAPAN. MAY SEE PRICE INCREASING OR MORE SCRUTINY. DISTRIBUTION COULD BE AFFECTED ... BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF THE SUPPLY ... SUPPLY AND DEMAND."

AND, KUSUHARA WORRIES ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF RADIATION CONTAMINATION ON FISH IN NORTHERN JAPAN …

NOBI KUSHUHARA
"FISH IS VERY SENSITIVE. WHEN YOU EAT SOMETHING WITH RADIATION THE PEOPLE GET SICK."

THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM NOW. AND, WITH THE FDA INSPECTION PROCESS, HE HOPES THAT WILL NEVER BE A PROBLEM.

NOBI KUSHUHARA
"WE HAVE TO SHOW ANY FISH. WHERE THEY COME FROM. WHAT KIND OF APPROVAL THEY HAVE."

SHORTAGES AND PRICES INCREASES ARE POSSIBLE, BUT... WITH SO MANY FISH AVAILABLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD .. HE'S HOPING FOR THE BEST.