DEVELOPMENT OF FUKURO FUNORI (Gloiopeltis furcata) BREEDING REEF USING AN ARTIFICIAL SUBSTRATE

With the decline in fishery production and progress of the aging of fishermen, facilities that enable safe fishing activities for the elderly and systematic production have been called for in the fishing industry in recent years. While high-quality fukuro funori (Gloiopeltis furcata) produced in the coastal waters off Kamiiso Town, Hokkaido, is an important source of income in winter, production has dramatically decreased in recent years. Consequently, there is strong demand for the development of a breeding technology that can be employed to achieve higher productivity and greater workability than the existing breeding method in which natural stones are used. Fukuro funori belongs to the Rhodophyceae class, and is distributed on rocks in the upper parts of the intertidal zones on the Sea of Japan coast. The species is an important resource used for food and manufacturing. The purpose of this study was to develop a fukuro funori breeding reef for effective use of an unused area of water (intertidal zone). A preliminary survey was conducted on five substrates made of different materials, which were placed in the sea at the test area. The survey results show that the most suitable substrate for adhesion and growth is nutrient-salteluting-type porous concrete utilizing coal ash waste. An examination was also conducted regarding methods of structuring, and arrangements for breeding facilities, taking the working environment of the elderly into account. Furthermore, commercialization of the substrate was promoted based on the results of the preliminary survey, and its effectiveness, including economic effect, was confirmed.