Tuna Farming in Japan

Tuna Farming in Japan
By: Travis Lien


Tuna farming in Japan began in the 1970’s and has steadily expanded and improved since. According to a 2008 article published in Reviews in Fisheries Science journal, nearly 20% of Japan’s annual catch of Bluefin tuna now comes from fish farmed at one of 18 fisheries. Amami Station and Fisheries Research Agency on a small island south of mainland Japan, uses various nets and pins, with internal water areas as large as 14 hectares, to raise the tuna in their different stages of life. Unfortunately, however, the farmed tuna only have a 30% survival rate compared to tuna in the wild. Another interesting find by Japanese fish farmers is that water temperature has a huge impact on the weight gain of farmed tuna. An increase in water temperature of only 3 degrees Celsius means a more than doubling of weight. This is due to a strong positive correlation between water temperature and the feeding activity of tuna. Although Japan has come a long way and made significant breakthroughs in sustainable fisheries, it still has a few unresolved problems that need to be worked out in order to support healthy tuna populations in the future.

MASUMA, SHUKEI. "Status of Bluefin Tuna Farming, Broodstock Management, Breeding and Fingerling Production in Japan." Reviews in Fisheries Science 16 (2008): 385-90. Taylor & Francis Group, 2008. Web. 12 Feb. 2010.