The Present State of Carp Fisheries and Aquaculture in Japan

Kazumasa Ikuta and Motoyoshi Yamaguchi

Environment Section, Freshwater Fisheries and Environment Division, National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Research Agency, Ueda, 386-0031, Japan

ABSTRACT

Carp (Cyprinus carpio), which is thought to have originated from central Asia, is the world's oldest aquacultured fish. In Japan, farmers have cultured carp in paddy fields for nearly two thousand years, particularly in inland areas, such as in Nagano, Gunma and Akita Prefectures, which have been traditionally characterized by a lack of animal protein resources.

After World War II, paddy field aquaculture declined with the beginning of wide-spread usage of pesticides, while at the same time, irrigation reservoir aquaculture and high density flow-through pond aquaculture became predominant. As a result, carp production began to increase in response to increasing demands. Since the 1960s, carp production, particularly in Lake Kasumigaura in Ibaraki Prefecture, has been accelerated by new developments in artificial feed and net-pen aquaculture technology. Culture levels peaked in 1977, when total annual production was about 30,000 tons. Subsequently, with the diversification of people's food preferences and product availability, total production decreased gradually in accordance with lower demand and depressed prices. Total annual production of cultured carp reached a low of 9,949 tons in 2001. However, because of deeply rooted local needs and cultural preferences, carp remains the third largest target of freshwater aquaculture in Japan following eel and trout. Production based on capture fisheries has fluctuated similarly, reflecting the trend observed with aquaculture production, and was 3,558 tons in 2001. At present, 52% of total carp aquaculture production and 17% of the related seed production is dependent on the Lake Kasumigaura area, and these products are supplied throughout Japan. In this way, the outbreak of koi herpesvirus (KHV) and associated problems in this area have greatly impacted the entire carp fisheries and aquaculture industry in Japan.

At the same time, nishikigoi (koi carp) have been bred as ornamental fish since the Edo Era in the 18th century. Nowadays, koi shows and contests are important activities inside of Japan, and koi traded is conducted throughout the country. International trading is also being actively promoted, and these fish are well-known and admired in many foreign countries. Nishikigoi farms are located in many areas of Japan; 48% of the farms are found in Niigata Prefecture, followed by Gifu (8%) and Hiroshima (6.5%) Prefectures.