by Marco G Pistrin, RP Bio, CEO/Director, AquaOrganica SRL
Japan’s long-standing aquaculture industry is shifting from low-tech, low-intensity practices to modern, high-tech RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) farming while maintaining its focus on quality and sustainability. Deeply connected to the nation’s cuisine and culture, aquaculture plays a crucial role in sustaining demand for premium seafood. As a pioneer in Pacific coastal aquaculture, cultivating species from pearl oysters and eels to tuna and salmon, the industry is now at a turning point.
According to Statista, in 2024, Japan’s seafood imports, valued at JP¥2 trillion (US$13 billion), surpassed domestic production and wild catch fisheries, worth JP¥1.6 trillion (US$11 billion). Once the world’s top fishing nation, Japan must now strengthen its aquaculture sector to ensure food security while maintaining cultural traditions and quality standards. With innovation and policy shaping the future, investments in high-tech farming will help produce high-value finfish, shellfish, molluscs and seaweed.
A rich history of aquaculture
Japan’s aquaculture dates back over a thousand years, initially focusing on carp, shellfish and seaweed farming. According to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), records from 1603 document semi-intensive oyster and seaweed cultivation in the Seto Island Sea, a multi-billion-yen industry today. By the early 1600s, Edo (modern-day Tokyo) fishermen cultivated nori seaweed using bamboo racks, a method still in use. Oysters and scallops were soon farmed, particularly in Hokkaido and Hiroshima, regions that remain key shellfish producers.
By the 1800s, Japan’s inland aquaculture practices integrated with traditional rice farming, leading to polyculture systems that combined rice production with carp, eel and freshwater crab farming. This ensured efficient land and water use, improved food security and provided pest control.
In the late 19th century, Kokichi Mikimoto revolutionised aquaculture by perfecting oyster ranching, producing the world’s first cultured spherical pearls. According to GlobalSeafood.org, this milestone demonstrated how aquaculture could drive economic growth beyond food production.
Rise of modern aquaculture
By 1930, Japanese farmers pioneered intensive marine finfish farming, raising high-value species like mackerel, red sea bream, sea urchins, flounder and yellowtail amberjack in fixed sea pens. This innovation proved that wild fish could be farmed year-round to meet market demand. By the 1950s, floating sea cage technology improved productivity, survival and yields.
According to James R. Coull’s 1994 article, Will a Blue Revolution Follow the Green Revolution? Japan’s aquaculture production surged over 220 percent between the 1970s and 1990s due to advancements in feed, disease management, rearing conditions, genetic selection and hatchery science.
Culturally, Buddhism played a key role in aquaculture’s development. For centuries, many Japanese refrained from eating four-legged animals, making fish a primary protein source. Sushi and other seafood-based culinary techniques further embedded aquaculture in Japan’s food culture.
A major breakthrough came in 2002 when Kindai University’s Aquaculture Research Institute achieved the world’s first closed-cycle Pacific bluefin tuna aquaculture. Professors Yoshifumi Sawada and Tokihiko Okada successfully farmed bluefin from hatchery-spawned eggs to market size, laying the foundation for sustainable bluefin production.
Japan’s aquaculture industry today
Japan has over 14,000 marine aquaculture sites and 662 registered land-based facilities. According to the Fisheries Agency of Japan (2023) and MAFF, national aquaculture production is around 1.4 million tonnes, with marine aquaculture contributing 942,560 tonnes and freshwater aquaculture about 35,000 tonnes. Japan ranks as the world’s 12th largest farmed fish producer.
Despite its strong aquaculture sector, Japan remains heavily dependent on seafood imports. According to the Japanese Fisheries Agency (2022) and FAO (2019), Japan ranks 13th globally in per capita seafood consumption at 41–46kg per person annually. However, seafood consumption has declined over the past 20 years due to dietary shifts.
MAFF reports that Japan imports 2.2 million tonnes of seafood yearly, including salmon, tuna, shrimp and squid, which are culinary staples. Imports supply 40–45 percent of seafood for human consumption, with salmon and trout as top imports, valued at JP¥278 billion (US$1.9 billion) in 2022, primarily sourced from Chile and Norway.
Government initiatives & industry growth
Japan’s Basic Plan for Fisheries (2022) outlines policies to boost national seafood production, emphasising land-based aquaculture. The government is streamlining permitting, financing and construction to encourage aquaculture investment. Key priorities include improving feed self-sufficiency, increasing production of strategic species and reducing reliance on imports.
Financial support is a major component of Japan’s aquaculture expansion. Low-interest loans and government funding are available for ventures using advanced technologies or contributing to job creation. Many aquaculture sites are in rural coastal towns, where revitalisation efforts aim to enhance local economies. Officials support projects upgrading hatcheries, processing facilities, high-tech RAS and HFS farms, and modernising existing operations.
Japan’s land-based aquaculture boom
Of Japan’s 662 land-based aquaculture sites, three new large-scale Atlantic salmon RAS projects stand out: Soul of Japan, Proximar and ATLAND Corporation. These developments highlight Japan’s increasing acceptance of large-scale land-based aquaculture to meet demand for fresh fish.
- Soul of Japan is constructing a 10,000 tonne Atlantic salmon RAS farm in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture. A subsidiary of Pure Salmon Group, backed by 8F Asset Management, the project has raised JP¥68 billion (US$460 million), including JP¥45 billion (US$300 million) in Japanese government loans. Once operational, the facility will produce 195 tonnes of salmon weekly, reducing reliance on imports. The first harvest is expected by mid-2027.
- Proximar is building a 5300 tonne Atlantic salmon RAS facility at the base of Mount Fuji in Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture. The Norwegian company has invested JP¥17 billion (US$140 million), with Marubeni securing exclusive distribution rights. The hatchery was completed in 2022, and the first salmon are already in tanks. Full production is set for 2027 under the Fuji Salmon brand.
- Atland Corporation, a joint venture between Maruha Nichiro Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation, is developing a 2500 tonne Atlantic salmon RAS facility in Nyuzen, Toyama Prefecture. Using Mitsubishi’s AI and IoT technology, the project is fully Japanese-owned and financed at JP¥11 billion (US$75 million). Construction begins in March 2025, with completion expected in 2027.
These projects reflect Japan’s commitment to high-tech, land-based aquaculture. Strong domestic demand for fresh salmon has encouraged investment in these large-scale facilities, which could eventually position Japan as a net salmon exporter.
Future outlook & global implications
Japan’s investment in high-tech aquaculture could serve as a model for other nations. For example, Canada, which faces opposition to open-ocean net-pen farming, could benefit from similar land-based aquaculture initiatives. With Japan’s consistent demand for premium salmon, proximity to Canada’s west coast may offer advantages, such as reduced transportation emissions and access to Pacific-grown fish.
Aquaculture remains central to Japan’s seafood supply, blending tradition with innovation. As the industry continues to grow, Japan is solidifying its role as a leader in sustainable seafood production, balancing heritage with cutting-edge technology. The nation’s evolving aquaculture sector marks the beginning of a technological renaissance, ensuring long-term food security and economic growth.
Published in the April 2025 issue of International Aquafeed & Fish Farming Technology
