China halts imports of koi fish from Japan

Adorned with beautiful colours and patterns, koi are popular pets that have been described as swimming jewels. - ILLUSTRATION: PEXELS

TOKYO: Japan’s koi breeders lost their biggest export market after China did not renew the licences it had awarded to numerous farms there.

The last of the licences expired in October 2023, and the Chinese authorities did not offer an explanation for the non-renewals, according to media reports.