Aquaculture Technologies for Invertebrates

Alterations to the structure of the fisheries industry have become necessary in Japan due to low levels of capture fisheries production, an aging population, environmental concerns, and increased worldwide demand for marine food products. In accordance with these developments, the Fisheries Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, established the new Basic Plan for Fisheries in 2007. Under this plan, measures to realize the improvement of food self-sufficiency and global competitiveness of the industry are given priority, such as the promotion of stock management in Japan’s exclusive economic zone and on the high seas, development of ecosystem-based sustainable aquaculture, establishment of new distribution systems, promotion of the export of marine products to expanding international markets, and utilization of multiple functions of fisheries communities. Concerning aquaculture technology, the plan calls for the promotion of sustainable production based on the responsible use of aquaculture grounds and development of multiaquaculture technology employing low environmental-loading feed. Development of large-scale aquaculture systems and offshore aquaculture technology should also be important in achieving more efficient usage of sea areas. Innovation of alternative protein sources for feed, that is, plants or agricultural waste products, is urgently required to deal with the shortage of fish meal. The Fisheries Research Agency (FRA) has recently initiated projects on blue-fin tuna and kanpachi (amber jack) aquaculture in accordance with these research schemes. In this paper, current aquaculture research in the FRA was introduced.