Japan Aquaculture

The land-based aquaculture industry in Japan is booming, attracting new entrants from various sectors. Commonly farmed species include flounder, rainbow trout, prawns, tiger pufferfish, and sea grapes. Because fishing rights are not required, many non-fishing businesses, including large and medium-sized trading companies and foreign-affiliated firms, are increasingly entering the market.

According to a private Japanese market research firm, the market for land-based aquaculture systems and equipment was valued at approximately at $54 million in 2022. With the expansion of larger land-based aquaculture facilities and the diversification of marine products being farmed, the market is expected to grow to $78 million by 2027.

The Government of Japan would like to increase seafood production and consumption to revitalize the country’s fisheries and aquaculture industry. Smart aquaculture, which utilizes Information Communication Technology (ICT), Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and drones is anticipated to enhance profitability and drive labor-saving innovations. In April 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) introduced a notification system to monitor the growing number of land-based aquaculture operators, with 662 companies registered as of January 2024.

Land-based aquaculture offers significant advantages, including labor-saving, environmental control, and consistent year-round productivity, despite varying climate conditions. Success in this field relies on maintaining systems that regulate water temperature and cleanliness, along with diligent monitoring of fish to prevent the spread of diseases and parasites.

There is a high demand for sophisticated and safe automatic feeders, pumps, heaters, and water quality control devices in land-based aquaculture. Japanese companies are also advancing research and development in image analysis technology for use in marine aquaculture.

U.S. companies with cutting-edge technologies that can be applied to smart aquaculture and are interested in entering the Japanese market should contact our Marine Technology Commercial Specialist in Japan by emailing Office.Tokyo@trade.gov.