Development of a Digital System to Streamline Seafood Trading Operations at Local Fish Markets
Many production-area fish markets, which play a vital role in supplying domestic seafood, are located in regions facing severe depopulation and population aging, making labor shortages an extremely serious challenge. To address this issue, we are developing a digital seafood trading system that enables labor-saving operations by collecting landing information as digital data, conducting electronic […]
Labor-Saving Monitoring of Fisheries Resources and Aquatic Environments Using Fully Automated Systems Based on Environmental DNA (eDNA) Technology
To dramatically reduce labor requirements and enhance the sophistication of continuous monitoring of fisheries resources, including fish, using environmental DNA (eDNA) technology, we aim to commercialize a compact, low-cost, and practical device called the “eDNA Sampler.” Centered on the manufacturing and sale of the eDNA Sampler, we plan to establish a startup company that also […]
Development of Biomass-Based Feed for Rearing Cold-Water High-Value Fish and Shellfish Using Underutilized Local Resources
With the aim of strengthening the production capacity of high-growth, high-quality cold-water premium fish and shellfish, we will develop collection and primary processing technologies to enable the mass utilization of food processing by-products, primarily generated in the Tohoku region, as feed ingredients. Using these technologies, we will manufacture nutrient-rich, highly functional biomass feed and supply […]
Improvement of SPALOW (Solar-Powered AirLift for Ocean Water), a Self-Sustaining Seabed Water-Lifting System, for the Practical Deployment and Widespread Adoption of Oyster Aquaculture
Through prior research and development, we have prototyped a self-sustaining seabed water-lifting system that enables increased production of cultured oysters. The system lifts 10 tons of nutrient-rich bottom seawater per hour, together with seabed sediments containing high-quality plankton, which serve as food for oysters. As a result, we achieved a 48% increase in shucked meat […]
Promoting Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture through Advanced Fishing-Ground Monitoring and Smart Site Selection
The practical implementation of submersible fish cages has enabled large-scale and stable fish aquaculture even in harsh marine environments characterized by strong waves and currents, which were previously considered unsuitable for aquaculture. However, recent changes in the marine environment associated with climate change have made the selection of suitable aquaculture sites an emerging challenge. To […]
Establishment of a High Value-Added Land-Based Aquaculture System Utilizing Water Purification Technology with Microalgae
Using the water purification method employing microalgae developed as an outcome of Phase 1, this project aims to develop an environmentally low-impact land-based aquaculture system with low running costs. The research activities include: (1) the construction of a high-performance water quality maintenance system, (2) the development of a cloud-based monitoring system, and (3) the establishment […]
Development of Innovative Aquaculture Technologies Utilizing Functional Gut Microbiota in Fish
Aquaculture is attracting increasing attention as an effective means of ensuring a sustainable food supply in modern society. At the same time, the industry faces pressing challenges, including increased ecological pressure due to the overharvesting of forage fish, rising operational costs driven by escalating prices of aquaculture feed, and the spread of infectious diseases associated […]
Creation of a Genome-Edited Breeding Platform for Aquatic Species
Although global seafood production—particularly through aquaculture—continues to increase, Japan’s fisheries industry is in decline. We believe that the revival of Japan’s fisheries sector requires the development of more robust strains through selective breeding. As a solution, we have established an ultra-rapid breeding approach utilizing genome editing, along with a production framework for farmed fish. In […]
Feasibility Study on Commercializing Marine Thraustochytrids Cultivated from Industrial Waste as Alternative Aquaculture Feed Ingredients to Fishmeal and Fish Oil
Aquaculture feeds are currently dependent on fishmeal and fish oil as their primary ingredients, creating a fundamental dilemma: producing a small amount of high-value farmed fish by consuming large quantities of low-cost wild fish. To address this challenge, our project aims to eliminate reliance on fishmeal and fish oil by utilizing marine thraustochytrids as both […]
Commercialization of a Next-Generation Antibody Development Platform Enabled by Underutilized Shark Resources and Land-Based Rearing Technologies
VNAR antibodies, the smallest antibodies derived from sharks, represent a next-generation antibody modality characterized by high engineering flexibility and plasticity, as well as low-cost production. By utilizing small sharks from underutilized marine resources, we aim to generate high-value VNAR antibodies. We plan to establish a startup company that provides the “Fukabody Platform”. With support from […]
