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Farmed Blufin Tuna by Kinki Univ. Wins Ministry Technology Award
June 10, 2008
Hidemi Kumagai, former director of Kinki University Research Institute of
Fishery Science and Tsukasa Ohara, director of A-marine Kindai are to be given
a Ministry Technology Award for their contributions of the complete culture
process of bluefin tuna and market development.
An awards ceremony will be staged at the 7th University Industry
Government Collaboration Conference in Kyoto International Conference Hall on
June 14, 2008.
The research institute undertook its project on cultured blufin tuna in 1970.
In 2002, it announced an unprecedented success in the complete culture process
of the fish; it became possible to complete a full cycle of reproduction (incubation
→ maturity → spawning → incubation) within the farm facility. Furthermore, the
second generation of this complete cycle was engendered in the year of 2007.
A-marine Kindai has made significant contributions to development of
distribution root for yellowtail, tilefish, yellow jack, flounder, tankifugu, as well as
blufin tuna by Kinki Univ.
Translated by Kiyo Hayasaka on June 9, 2008
Sanriku Coho Salmon Market Price Will Make Steady Growth
June 10, 2008
Scarcity of Sanriku coho salmon as a result of delay in growth of the fish
has attributed a steady market price increase. A total sum of harvest at
Ishinomaki market in Onagawa by the end of May was merely 2,260 tons with a
8.6% decrease; an average unit price is 523 yen, 10.3% higher than the same
time last year.
“An average size of the fish as of the end of May is 1.7 to 1.8 kg, equal to
a size seen at the end of last April,” said the parities involved. The cause of this
delay in growth can be blamed on the cold water temperature, which has been
persistent since March. Despite the steadily warming up water temperature, the
May water temperature is below 10℃, lower than expected. The cold water
temperature in May caused a further loss of appetite of the fish. In early June, the
surface water temperature has finally reached 12 to 13 ℃.
“A total sum of consumed fish feed by the end of May is just 70 percent of
the last year; the amount of shipment is just about 80 percent. It seems too late
for the fish to grow up to the normal level,” further said the related parties. The
stagnant growth of shipment causes the situation of demand well surpassing
supply. Processors with order slips from their clients have been competing over
the fish. Usually a large number of coho salmon being shipped in the months of
June and July attributes a price decrease; this year, however, may witness
something different.
The parties involved forecast: “We have been losing some salmon and as
producers we wish to ship out the fish as big as possible. The cold water
temperature will force us to feed the fish longer than usual and this means a
possible long-term battle.” Unless the water temperature quickly rises, “the
market price will steadily grow without a large quantity of shipment.”
Translated by Kiyo Hayasaka on June 9, 2008
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