 |
|
|
|
|
INTRODUCTION
JAPAN has made important contributions to the field of aquaculture and has
led the world in developing cultures of marine and brackishwater organisms.
The country is limited in areas suitable for inland aquaculture, but its vast
areas of protected shores, bays, and inland seas give it high potential for
culturing marine and brackishwater animals and plants. Japan has taken good
advantage of its potential for both inland and coastal aquaculture, especially
for the latter. Ex- amples are development of cultures for seaweeds, shrimp,
oysters and other molluscs, eels, ayu, trout, and yellowtail. Last year Japanese
research biologists were the first to artificially spawn and hatch yellowfin
tuna. They have also collected fingerlings of yellowfin and bluefin tuna from
the sea and raised them in net cages. In support of its aquacultural developments,
Japan, has many well-trained biologists and some of the best-equipped research
stations and institutes in the world.
In May 1971, the author was able to tour various Japanese aquacultural facilities.
The itinerary was developed by Dr. Clinton E. Atkinson, Fisheries Attache
at the United States Embassy in Tokyo, and his assistant, Mr. Yoshio Nasaka,
served as interpreter on the tour.
This report presents a summary of different types of aquaculture in Japan
along with personal observations about these aquacultures. Also included is
a summary for each of the various stations, laboratories, and private farms
visited. The purpose was to assess the value of Japan's aquacultural methods
in terms of possible direct or indirect application in other countries, and
to evaluate the present and probable future status of aquacultures in Japan.