Japan's Maruha Nichiro to export fully farmed tuna.

Japanese companies plan totally farmed bluefin exports

JAPAN
Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

Several companies in Japan are improving the techniques for farming tuna bred from eggs, and they can begin to expand exports and service other markets besides Japan.

One of these firms Maruha Nichiro will soon begin exports to the European Union. It has bases for fully farmed tuna in Saiki, Oita Prefecture, and in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. Both operations have been certified as safe for exports to Europe and the company plans to begin by shipping tuna to the Netherlands starting within the year, Nikkei Asian Report informed.

Croatian firm Kali Tuna breeds bluefin tuna in offore nets for three years before they are slaughtered, processed and shipped off to other parts of the world. | COURTESY OF J-TRADING

The firm shipped roughly 300 tons of fully farmed tuna in fiscal 2017, generating sales of JPY 900 million (USD 8.05 million). The company has figured out ways to increase the survival rate of juveniles reared from eggs and expects the business to become profitable in fiscal 2018, giving it reason to begin exports. Europe was chosen because it is in the midst of a Japanese food boom, according to company executive Akira Ito.

In addition, Kyokuyo and Feed One are ready to expand exports using their separate sales channels. The two companies expect to ship a combined total of about 35 tons of the tuna to the US in fiscal 2018, but going forward Feed One intends to target Singapore and other markets of Asia, while Kyokuyo will set its sights on Europe.

It was thought that farmed tuna would not eat formula feed, but Feed One developed a feed for tuna, and Kyokuyo provided the technical wherewithal to farm the fish. Farmed tuna also need foods like mackerel and sardines to grow, but if formula feed can account for a larger percentage of the diet, that will help protect these other fish resources in the wild.

Challenge farming bluefin tuna. Photo: courtesy Maruha Nichiro

"Distributors overseas like the idea because they care about wildlife conservation," explained Kyokuyo President Makoto Inoue.

The problem with tuna fishing is that it threatens conservation by capturing tuna before they have a chance to breed. According to a fisheries white paper, the global catch of bluefin tuna was less than 50,000 tons in 2016, which is just half of the peak.

Recent restrictions have helped restore stocks, which is why Japan proposed a 15 per cent increase in the quotas allotted to individual nations at the meeting of the northern committee of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission held in early September in Fukuoka.

Bluefin tuna eggs | COURTESY OF KINKI UNIVERSITY’S FISHERIES LABORATORY

However, the US and other nations were against the proposal and the quotas were left unchanged.

This emphasis on marine conservation creates business opportunities for fully farmed fish.

In the Netherlands, where the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is located, more and more supermarkets are stocking certified marine products. To gain certification, the producer must prove that farming does not impact the surrounding ecosystem.

In Japan, retail giant Aeon is already selling some kinds of ASC certified fish. The ASC has not certified any tuna yet, but companies like Maruha Nichiro hope to win that stamp of approval for their fully farmed tuna and use that to expand regional sales.
 
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