Japan's "booming" demand for salmon could provide a huge opportunity for Scotland, Food and Drink Secretary Richard Lochhead has said.
At the moment, just over 1% of all imports of salmon into Japan are from Scotland. But the fish is now taking over from tuna as the number one choice for sushi.
If Scotland could win an extra 1% of Japan's salmon import market, that would see the value of exports of the fish double to £6.4 million.
Mr Lochhead said: "By increasing our share of Japan's booming imported salmon market by just a tiny fraction we can increase the value of our exports by a phenomenal amount."
He is in Japan leading the largest Scottish food and drink mission to Asia and as part of that he visited Tokyo's famous Nobu restaurant - where Scottish salmon is now on the menu.
Mr Lochhead stated: "The Japanese eat 12% of the world's fish yet make up just 2% of the population. So, the appetite is there for us to feed the market with our top quality seafood.
"Scottish seafood - including salmon - has unique appeal to the Japanese consumer. It is high quality, sustainably sourced, fresh and flavoursome. I'm sure more and more of it will be appearing in homes and restaurants across Japan in the years to come."
Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation, described Japan as an "emerging market with great potential".
He added: "The market value has more than doubled in a three-year period and we are confident that it can grow further.
"The sushi and sashimi markets are achieving a very high rate of growth globally. It is a trendy product and Scottish salmon is perfectly suited because of its quality, freshness and great taste. As Japan has one of the fastest growing demands for salmon, encouraging greater consumption of 'the best farmed salmon in the world' is very timely."
