Background of the Development of Regenerative Sea Urchin Farming
View of the 'Isoyake' seafloor
In recent years, the problem of " Isoyake," or the dying off of seaweed beds along the coast, has become an issue, and it is believed that one of the causes is that marine organisms such as sea urchins have eaten all of the seaweed.
In order to stop the progression of isoyake, it is recommended that sea urchins be exterminated, but "skinny sea urchins" on the seafloor, where the seaweed beds have already died, are discarded because they are not productive and have no commercial value.
Kita-sanriku Factory has started an initiative called "Sea Urchin Regeneration and Cultivation," which aims to transform skinny sea urchins into tasty sea urchin products instead of discarding them.
This initiative will not only lead to a solution to the problem of Isoyake, but will also lead to the creation of local industry.
Sea Urchin Regeneration and Cultivation Project
Establishment of high-quality, profitable sea urchin regenerative cultivation technology
We have collaborated with Hokkaido University and other research institutes and businesses to establish cultivation techniques to regenerate sea urchins that are discarded due to rocky shores and to improve their quality to a product level.
We then developed the "feed" to make the sea urchins tasty and the "cages" to raise them to the best quality. It makes the sea urchin of the highest quality and regenerates it as a valuable marine product.
Thus, we established the "sea urchin regenerative aquaculture" system and obtained a patent for it.
Utilizing recycled resources of seaweed, vegetables, and residues
In addition to establishing a method for recycling unused biomass such as seaweed and vegetables, we have succeeded in establishing a method for improving retention in water, and have acquired a major technology that will lead to the development of feed for sea urchin aquaculture.
Research and development partners: Hakodate Regional Industry Promotion Foundation, Nisshin Marubeni Feed Corporation、 Kitasanriku Factory、 etc.
Using multivariate analysis of spectra in the infrared outside range, we established a feed manufacturing technology. Based on this, we examined nutritional components other than seaweed and developed the formula feed HAGUKUMU-TANE®.
We have succeeded in developing a feed that improves fruitfulness in as short a time as 8 to 10 weeks.
Research and development partners: Hokkaido University, Ainan Liberacio Corporation, Kitasanriku Factory, etc.
Reproduce a taste similar to that of natural sea urchins
We have developed cages for sea farming and a land-based aquaculture system, and examined the profitability of sea urchin cultivation through various demonstration experiments. Using metabolome analysis, we quantified and compared the taste of cultured sea urchin, and succeeded in reproducing a taste similar to that of natural sea urchin.
Research and development partners: Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, Kitasanriku Factory Co.
Patent
Patent No. 7082388: Composition of Feed for Sea Urchin Cultivation (joint application with Hokkaido University and others)
Patent No. 7029133: Structure of a fish tank for sea urchins and a water tank for sea urchins.
100 times the value in a short period of 2 months of regenerative cultivation implementation.
The sea urchins are placed in cages and fed with a feed developed by the company. By properly operating this regenerative aquaculture, it is possible to improve the sea urchin to shipping level in as short a time as two months.
The sea urchins cultivated with this cultivation technology and feed have a taste similar to that of natural sea urchins, and the " skinny sea urchins in isoyake area" which used to cost 5 yen each and had to be disposed of, have been regenerated into sea urchins worth 500 yen each (5,000 yen for 1 kg) at the market price.
Before
After
Sales of sea urchin made from regenerative cultivation
We have shipped fresh sea urchin made from regenerative cultivation in four areas since December 2022.
Kitasanriku Factory provides support for the sale of sea urchin produced by regenerative sea urchin farming.
The sea urchin, which creates the future of marine products through regenerative sea urchin cultivation, is named "Hagukumu Uni®" with a wish to "nurture rich nature and local communities with various people" and is sold under a unified brand name.
Our support services for the sea urchin regenerative cultivation
New industry for your region! Support services available for fishermen struggling with rocky shore scorch problems.
Kitasanriku Factory has been engaged in "sea urchin regeneration cultivation" as an effort to convert sea urchins that have become underfed due to rocky shores into delicious sea urchin products, rather than disposing of them.
Through this business, we have established our own "Sea Urchin Regenerative Cultivation" technology, which includes high quality taste, fruitfulness, speed of cultivation, and processing and sales, and we provide total support from the start of cultivation business to shipping and sales channels for businesses troubled by isoyake.
The flow of our services
We will support you in acquiring the know-how and creating a new industry in the region so that you can establish a business in regenerative cultivation.
Contact Us Please feel free to contact us first if you are a business facing the issue of isoyake problems.
Hearing of issues and requests After sharing your issues with us, we will discuss with you how we can support you, including the cost and timeframe.
Site visit and hearing We will visit your site, analyze the current situation, and discuss our proposal.
Proposal of aquaculture contents We will propose an aquaculture plan tailored to the sea area, based on the information obtained from the investigation and analysis during the site visit.
Start of operation We will conduct aquaculture using feed and a fish tank. We will also provide advice on the production system.
Purchase of sea urchins We will provide you with an aquaculture plan that takes full responsibility for the entire process, including shipment and purchase of the sea urchins.
