Fishing

Japan's population is number one in the world in the consumption of fish and other sea food, along with being the biggest importer in the world. The country's sea food culture has been around for centuries and today is known throughout the world.

All of photos were taken at the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Known as the world's largest fish market, this location has been featured on countless number of TV shows and documentaries. While visiting we came across the immense variety of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks found there. We were able to see all the salesmen selling their product to buyers as well as getting to see their skills at preparing fish for taste testing. A rare few were even offering actual meals.

The sources for all the sea creatures that are on for sale there range from local waters to open ocean. The market also acts as a way point for the global fishing industry since the majority of Japans imported and exported seafood are sold and shipped there. In the case of the Tuna industry, Tsukiji is the very center. At 5:00 AM there is the world famous tuna auction taking place in the private section of the market where buyers form the biggest restaurants in Japan bid on the best catches of the day. The rest of the catch goes on sale in the public section of the market and other restaurants around the world. This was where the worlds most expensive Blue-fined Tuna was sold for 44,422,800 yen ($400,000).

Tsukiji Fish Market

Aquaculture

With the current rate of global fish consumption increasing, the oceans are now over exhauseted and one step closer to being forever damaged. Japan as a nation realizes this predicament and is currently searching for its own solution.

During our groups first week in Takamatsu, we visited this aquaculture research center. Here the researchers were put in charge by the Japanese government to researching matters such as efforts to combat against eutrophication and learning how to breed and grow farmable populations of local fish and mussel species. The research center also had a building dedicated to the research of red tide and would give radio warnings to fishing vessels that were out in the Seto Inland Sea.

In their land based indoor facility the researchers grew scorpion fish, killifish, and eel grass. The research facility also had a floating aquaculture setup where they had full grown Scorpion fish, Sheepshead Wrasse, and small variety of mussels. The head researcher's believe that be Japan will become more dependent on aquaculture in the future and that by doing this research Japan's will be able to continue its rich sea food dependent food culture.