National Research and Development Agency

Japan Fisheries Researchand Education Agency

About FRA
The Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA), a national
research and development (R&D) organization, conducts various
activities to ensure a consistent supply of fishery products and promote sustainable development of the fishery industry.
These objectives are founded on the core premise of promoting
R&D, fostering the development of human resources in fisheries, andallowing these outcomes to serve society through the optimizationof these achievements.
Following the instructions from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry,and Fisheries of Japan, the FRA formulated its 5th medium-to-longterm plan for 5 years, from FY 2021 to FY 2025.
Based on the aforementioned, the FRA is committed to making thebest use of its R&D outcomes by prioritizing research topics, improving the content of fisheries-related education, and developing an
optimal organizational structure that effectively and efficiently promotes the foregoing in a synergistic manner. FRA envisions a new
future for fisheries based on scientific and technological advances,and will work to contribute to the restoration of Japan’s fishing industry through these endeavors.

2Issues of Importance for the 5th medium-to-long term Plan
Measures to achieve goals related to maximizing the benefits of R&D and improving thequality of other operations.

1R&D BusinessPrioritize R&D efforts on the tasks listed below and promote them efficiently and effectively.

Important research subject (1)R&D of marine resources for the sustainable growth of the fishing industry.

1 R&D for the sustainable use of marine resources.
2 R&D for the maintenance and management of salmon resources.
Important research subject (2)R&D on production technology for the sustainable development of the fishing industry.

Important research subject (3)R&D for the establishment of new production technology in fisheries and aquaculture.

2

Human Resource Development
Regarding the human resource development work undertaken by the Japan Fisheries Research andEducation Agency, we will strengthen measures to secure motivated students, expand utilization ofresearch results in education and self-generated income through collaborative efforts with fisheries
industry, and advance development of core human resources in fisheries industry through teachingtheories, fundamentals and technologies in fisheries science.

1 Education of theories, fundamentals and technologies related to fisheries.
2 Maintenance of accreditation as an educational institution.
3	Continuation of education even in the event of large-scale disasters and widespread
infectious disease epidemics.

4	Research to be used in education of theories, fundamentals and technologies relatedto fisheries.

5 Strengthening support for job placement for graduates.
6 Student life support, etc.
7	Expansion of self-generated income, sophistication of educational content, andstrengthening measures to secure students.

3

Organization
President

Fisheries Resources Institute (FRI)
Fisheries Stock Assessment Center
Salmon Research Department
Planning and Coordination Department
Management Department

Executive Director
Auditor

Headquarters

Fisheries Technology Institute (FTI)

General Planning andCoordination Department
General Administration
Department
Inspection Section

Aquaculture Research Department
Environment and Fisheries Applied Techniques Research Department
Planning and Coordination Department
Management Department

Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center(JAMARC)
Fishery First Group
Fishery Second Group
Fishery Third Group
Aquaculture Group
Implementation Planning Section
General Affairs Division

National Fisheries University (NFU)
Department of Fisheries Distribution and Management
Department of Fisheries Science and Technology
Department of Ocean Mechanical Engineering
Department of Food Science and Technology
Department of Applied Aquabiology
Graduate School of Fisheries Science
Training and Education Center
Student Office
Administration Office

National Fisheries
UniversityHeadquarters
Marine Fisheries Research andDevelopment Center
Fisheries Resources Institute(Yokohama Field Station)

Fisheries Technology Institute(Nagasaki Field Station)

4

Fisheries Research Vessel and Fisheries Training vessel
The FRA has seven fisheries research vessels and two training vessels.
Fisheries research vessels study ecosystem mechanisms and forecast changes in these mechanisms.
They also monitor the current state of the ocean and develop new fishing techniques and equipment.
The fisheries training vessels contribute to practical training, guidance, surveys, and research.

Hokko-maru (Fisheries Research Vessel)
Gross tonnage: 902 tons
Maximum (Max.) passenger load: 37 persons

Wakataka-maru (Fisheries Research Vessel)
Gross tonnage: 692 tons
Max. passenger load: 31 persons

Soyo-maru (Fisheries Research Vessel)

Shunyo-maru (Fisheries Research Vessel)
Gross tonnage: 887 tons
Max. passenger load: 36 persons

Kotaka-maru (Fisheries Research Vessel)
Gross tonnage: 59 tons
Max. passenger load: 10 persons

Yoko-maru (Fisheries Research Vessel)

Taka-maru (Fisheries Research Vessel)

Koyo-maru (Fisheries Training vessel)
Gross tonnage: 2,352 tons
Max. passenger load: 109 persons

Tenyo-maru (Fisheries Training vessel)
Gross tonnage: 995 tons
Max. passenger load: 87 persons

Gross tonnage: 61 tons
Max. passenger load: 15 persons

Gross tonnage: 892 tons
Max. passenger load: 36 persons

Gross tonnage: 692 tons
Max. passenger load: 33 persons

5Fisheries Resources Institute (FRI)

R&D of marine resources for the sustainable development of the fishing industry
Fisheries Stock Assessment Center
We conduct R&D on the stock assessment offishery resources in the waters surrounding
Japan and international fishery resources such astuna, tuna-like species, and bottom fish caught
by Japanese fisheries worldwide. We collaborate
with domestic and international organizations toprovide advice on optimizing the management ofthese resources.
We focus on improving the accuracy of stock
assessments and refining management procedures for fish species supplied as seeds. We also
conduct R&D from a socio-economic perspective on resource management techniques, including those that examine the impact on themarine ecosystem.

We identify changes in the distribution, migration routes, and abundance of fishery resourcesin relation to climate change and the marine environment. Furthermore, we improve the accuracy of forecasts of fishing grounds and oceanic
conditions by actively using oceanographic datafrom research vessels, satellites, and field information from fishers . We also provide shortterm forecasts of fishing grounds and oceanic
conditions using a high-precision ocean dynamics
model, in addition to the traditional long-term
forecasts of fishing grounds and oceanic conditions.

OyashioCurrent

Tsushima
Current

Kuroshio-Oyashio
Transition Area

Overfishing
Overfished

Overfishing
Underfished

Underfishing
Overfished

Underfishing
Underfished1

Aiming for less than 1

Fishing mortality relative to MSY

Aiming for 1 or more00

Kuroshio
Current1
Stock biomass relative to MSY

Kobe plot

Plot showing the results of the stock assessment as the trajectory
time and status. These are often shown in relation to the stock
biomass capable of producing MSY (BMSY) and fishing mortality
capable of producing MSY (FMSY).

Model
Nemuro Strait
Fishing GroundResults from the surveys byresearch vessels, etc.

Tsugaru Strait
Fishing GroundOyashio
Water
Doto Fishing
GroundSanriku Fishing
GroundKuroshio
Water

Forecast of fishing grounds
using research vessels
Provision of forecast information
to fishers

Fishing groundformation-forecasting system

Information on the North Pacific
Oceanic Condition Forecast System(FRA-ROMS II)

Reﬁnement of technologies for sustainable use and assessment of ﬁshery resources
6

R&D on salmon stocks for sustainable salmon fisheries
Salmon Research Department
waters, offshore areas, and on the high seas todetermine the causes of stock decline and toidentify the critical growth stages of salmon thatare sensitive to environmental conditions. We
also try to enhance the rearing techniques andrelease strategies of hatchery-reared fry to restore salmon stocks.

With the expansion of artificial hatcheries andimproved rearing techniques, salmon returns inJapan have largely increased since the 1970s.
However, the stocks have declined over the past
two decades. The primary responsibility of thisdepartment is to contribute to the restorationand the management of salmon stocks in Japan.
We conduct various surveys in rivers, coastal

Spawning adult salmon

Number of chum salmon releases and adult returns in Japan
No. adult return(Hokkaido)

90,000No. adult return(Honshu)

2,500

No. hatcheryreleases

Number of adult return (thousand)

80,000

Salmon fry in the river

2,000

70,00060,0001,500

50,00040,0001,000

30,000500

20,000

Number of hatchery releases (million)

10,000

2021

2018

2015

2012

2009

2006

2003

2000

1997

1994

1991

1988

1985

1982

1979

1976

1973

0

1970

10,0000Schematic diagram of chum salmon migration

Bering Sea

latitude60ºN

Jun. -Nov.
immature, adultSea of Okhotsk

Aug.-Nov.
matureZero-age fish
Dec.-May.
Zero-age fish
Age-one- fish

50ºN

40ºN

spawning area
140ºE

160ºE

Gulf of Alaska
Dec.-May.
immature, adultNorth Pacific Ocean

180º

160ºW

140ºW

longitude

Sagittal section of the otolith from hatcheryreared salmon

Coded bars are thermally marked to identify hatchery,release size, and release date.

Restoring salmon stocks and sustaining populations
7

Fisheries Technology Institute (FTI)

Development of production technologies for the sustainable development of the fishery industry
Aquaculture Research Department
For the expansion of the aquaculture industry,
we are working on the development of massseed production technologies for various species, including blueﬁn tuna and Japanese eel; theBluefin tuna seedling production

creation of ﬁsh/shellﬁsh with characteristics suitable for aquaculture; and the development oftechnologies for disease prevention, rearing, andstabilizing aquaculture businesses.

Development for glass eel production technique.

Environment
Spawning without control

Spawning (Jun to July)(Water temperature)

Feed made of materials withstable supply.

Early spawning in the tank with environmental control
Spawning (Apr to May)

Development of rearing equipment.

(Water temperature)(day/night)

Feeding by an automatic feeder.

Month

Early spawningin the tank (Apr to May)

Transfer to the fish
cages at the sea

Landing and shipmentof the fish

Seedlings reared using an automaticfeeder.

Transfer of egg collection and larvalrearing techniques .

Breeding of yellowtail
Replacement of wild species with artificial seeds

Fish diseases

Selecting fishwith excellent
traits such as
good growthfrom aquafarms.

Characterization of pathogens
Determination of the cause
Development of diagnostic
methods

Selective mating basedon traits and genetic
information.
Further verification.

Prevention and precautionary measuresDevelopment of prevention
methods
Vaccine Development
Basic immunological researchInternational cooperation
Diagnosis of unknown diseases
and definite diagnosis of specificdiseases as an OIE participant.

Creation of highly competitive fishing industry
8Environment and Fisheries Applied Techniques Research Department
To contribute to the sustainable development ofa safe and reliable fishing industry, we explore
engineering technologies to improve safety, energy conservation, and efficiency for fishing vessels and industries, restoration and developmentof fishing grounds, functional development offishing ports, and development of the underlyingsocio-economic roles and functions in fishingcommunities.
To provide safe and reliable seafood products,
we have developed several new analytical methods for the analysis of marine toxins and reference materials. Some of these have already been
introduced into marine toxin monitoring programs in Japan.
R&D are conducted to support fisheries, stockenhancement, and aquaculture in coastal andinland waters. Understanding the underlying
mechanisms that support the biological processes of fishery resources is important to achievesustainable fisheries; however, coastal and inland
ecosystems are located in complex environments that are susceptible to local anthropogenic activities and global climate change.

Only control
line appear

Various attempts are being made in a wide rangeof areas, including understanding the dynamics
of fishery resources in relation to environmental
changes, developing environmental restorationand design techniques, and promoting fishingstock enhancement and aquaculture. We aim tocontribute to the sustainable development ofcoastal and inland fisheries by producing andextending scientific output to fishermen andlocal research institutes.
We conduct research and investigation to createa suitable environment for fishery resources living in coastal areas. Our mission is: 1) to predict
red tide and shellfish poisoning outbreaks thatthreaten the sustainable development of coastal
aquaculture; 2) to develop techniques to reducethe damage to fisheries caused by harmful algal
blooms and to elucidate the mechanisms for thedeath of fish and shellfish caused by them; 3) toconduct a survey to grasp the true state ofchemical contamination in the coastal area; and4) to develop techniques to remediate polluted
sediments and maintain a healthy marine environment.

Add sample
solution

Schematic illustration of the tasks ofthe ‘Environmental
Chemistry andEcotoxicology
Group’ (ecotoxicology of marineorganisms, remediation of polluted
sediments)

Positive

Negative

Both control line
and test line appear

Add sample
solution

Performance test on a model of an
offshore bottom trawler.

Lateral flow test for
Paralytic shellfish toxin

Chattonella spp.,
a harmful algal
species

Agricultural chemicals,pesticides

50µm

Antifouling agents for ship bottoms

Domesticwaste water
Life-related
chemical substances

Ingestion of cultured phytoplankton cells (red dots)
segregated from Hiroshima
Bay by Pacific oyster larvae.

Study of impacts
on marineorganisms
Improving thesedimentenvironment

Herbivorous southern drummer
feeding on Hijiki seaweed
artificially deployed on a barren
ground.
9

Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center (JAMARC)

Development and research to establish new production
techniques for fisheries and aquaculture.
We conduct empirical research on fishing boats andvessels to carry out actual operations and sales in order torationalize the development and utilization of fishery resources,
with the aim of improving fishing-related technologies.

Purse seine fishery on distant waters
We will improve profitability and achieve sustainability through the development of efficient,energy-saving, and environmentally friendly operating technologies.

Offshore trawl fisheries
We aim to maintain stable management by improving fishing gear and efficiency, reducing onboard labor, and improving catch quality whileconsidering productivity improvement, sustainable resource utilization, and energy conservation.
Using drones to locate fish school

Skipjack pole-and-line fisheryWe aim to achieve stable management and sustainable development by saving energy and costs
by using pop-up tags to locate fish schools andby developing automatic fishing machines.

Offshore trawler

Aquaculture of leopard coral grouper andyellowtail
Through the development of commercialization
technology for leopard coral grouper aquaculture and the establishment of an annual supply
system for elite artificial yellowtail seedlings, we
aim to expand the domestic aquaculture industry.
Automatic Fishing Machine

Large set-net fishery
In order to cope with the aging of the crew andsecure new crew, we will improve fishing gearand operation, improve distribution and sales,and propose a new business model.

Leopard coral grouper

Yellowtail seedlings

Operation Scenery

10National Fisheries University (NFU)

Develop human resources to play active role in fisheries
and related sectors(Main roles requested to the Japan Fisheries
Research and Education Agency)
Strengthening measures to secure motivatedstudents, expansion of utilization of research
results in education and self-generated income,and advancement of development of core human resources in fisheries industry(3) Continuation of education even in the eventof large-scale disasters and widespread
infectious disease epidemics
Introduction of curriculums utilizing ICT etc. innormal times, and formulation of systems tocontinue education in crisis times such as parallel
use of in-face and online classes

Education of theories, fundamentals and technologies related to fisheries for human resource
development and promotion of research related
to the education(4) Research to be used in education oftheories, fundamentals and technologies related
to fisheries
Promotion of underlying research as an institution of higher education(Measures described in the Fifth Med-Long
Term plan)(1) Education of theories, fundamentals andtechnologies related to fisheries
Sophistication of educational contents based on
the challenges faced by the ﬁshery industry andthe new direction of the government’s fisheries
policies, etc.
(2) Maintenance of accreditation as an
educational institution
In order to develop active human resources asﬁsheries experts, we will maintain thecertiﬁcation by the National Institution for
Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement ofHigher Education and the certiﬁcation of engineer education programs by the Japan
Accreditation Board for Engineering Education,
as well as the registration as a ship officer training facility by the Minister for Land,
Infrastructure, and Transport in Japan.

(5) Strengthening support for job placement
for graduates
Through enhancing collaboration and cooperation with ﬁsheries-related companies and localgovernments etc., ensure high-rates in job placement for graduates in ﬁsheries industries, national and local governments and related sectors(6) Student life support, etc.
Supports for students through advice/instructions covering all the students’ life etc.
(7) Expansion of self-generated income,sophistication of educational contents, andstrengthening measures to secure students
As well as sophisticate educational contents
through collaboration with stake-holding fisheries industries etc., implement appropriate measures to expand self-generated incomes throughdonations and research funds from companiesetc.
Strengthening measures to secure motivatedstudents, etc.

Undergraduate Courses
Department of Fisheries Distribution and Management
Department of Fisheries Science and Technology
Department of Ocean Mechanical Engineering
Department of Food Science and Technology
Department of Applied Aquabiology

Advanced Courses
Navigation and Fishing Course
Marine Engineering Course

Graduate School of Fisheries Science
Fisheries Science and Mechanical Engineering
Resource Management and Food Science

Development of core human resources in fisheries industry
116F Technowave100, 1-1-25 shin-urashima, kanagawa-ku,
Yokohama, Kanagawa, 221-8529, JAPANphone: +81 45-277-0120
e-mail: fra-pr@fra.go.jp
https://www2.fra.go.jp/xq/