A demonstration test for land-based clam farming has begun in Nagasu Town, Kumamoto Prefecture. The test will verify technology to reduce the cost of feed supply, with the aim of contributing to resource conservation and the development of the fishing industry.
OBAYASHI CORPORATION has begun a demonstration test in Nagasu Town, Tamana District, Kumamoto Prefecture, aimed at reducing the cost of feed supply for land-based clam farming. The demonstration is being conducted as part of a comprehensive business partnership agreement concluded with Nagasu Town, the Kumamoto Northern Fisheries Cooperative Association, Nishinippon Institute of Technology, and Ajinomoto’s Kyushu Office.
Against a backdrop of declining shellfish catches due to high summer water temperatures and freshwater inflows caused by heavy rain, the project aims to accelerate resource recovery by managing water temperature, water quality and feeding in land-based farming. The high cost of feed had been an issue, so technology development to reduce costs has been under way.
The demonstration involves building a system to cultivate and supply diatoms using large-scale equipment in an external environment and use them to farm clams. The project aims to reduce feed costs by combining a nutrient source using nutrients derived from by-products with substitute feed such as rice bran.
Going forward, the project will verify the optimization of feeding methods and water-quality management and accumulate know-how on using by-products from local resources. The parties will deepen cooperation with local governments, fishing operators and others to realize the Fish Farm concept, which seeks to combine resource conservation with the development of the fishing industry.