Kita-Sanriku Factory Featured in WeAreAquaculture for SBIR-backed Sea Urchin Aquaculture Project
Month: May 2025
投稿日：2025年5月30日
Kita-Sanriku Factory Featured in WeAreAquaculture for SBIR-backed Sea Urchin Aquaculture Project
We are honored to share that Kita-Sanriku Factory has been featured in WeAreAquaculture, a California-based international aquaculture media outlet, for our pioneering work in land-based sea urchin aquaculture in Japan. This initiative is supported by Japan’s SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) program, and aims to establish a sustainable model of sea urchin farming through habitat restoration and innovation.
The article highlights our collaborative efforts with local fisheries, our commitment to marine ecosystem revitalization, and our broader vision for expanding sustainable aquaculture practices.
Inaugural Australia UNI (Sea Urchin) Summit Strengthens Japan-Australia Partnerships for Marine Restoration and Industry Innovation
HOBART, TASMANIA – The inaugural Australia UNI (Sea Urchin) Summit, held at the Salamanca Inn and Mures Tasmania over 21 and 22 May, showcased the power of collaboration between Japan and Australia in tackling shared marine challenges and advancing sustainable industry innovation.
Jointly organized by Kita-Sanriku Factory Inc., General Incorporated Association moova, and the University of Tasmania, the summit welcomed around 60 participants—including scientists, seafood industry leaders, chefs, and policymakers from both countries. The program focused on restoring Tasmania’s kelp forests—damaged in part by overpopulated long-spined sea urchins—and unlocking the economic potential of Australian sea urchins for both domestic and international markets.
This landmark event was made possible through support from the Australia–Japan Foundation (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, reflecting the shared commitment of both governments to environmental sustainability and economic resilience.
Yukinori Shitautsubo, Representative Director of Kita-Sanriku Factory Inc., highlighted the value of international cooperation:
“This summit symbolizes the strength of the Australia–Japan partnership in addressing environmental challenges and creating new economic opportunities. Together, we aim to restore marine ecosystems and build industries that benefit both nations.”
Key Highlights
Restoring Marine Ecosystems: Coordinated efforts to rehabilitate Tasmania’s iconic kelp forests, vital for biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
Economic Opportunities: Strategies to grow sustainable industries based on Tasmanian sea urchins, supported by bilateral expertise and market insights.
Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Strengthening ties between Japanese and Australian researchers, industry leaders, and communities through shared knowledge and joint initiatives.
Dr. John Keane, Wild Fisheries Program Leader at IMAS, emphasized the broader significance of the summit:
“This summit demonstrates how Japan and Australia can collaborate to address complex environmental issues while also fostering economic growth and cross-cultural relationships. It’s a testament to what can be achieved through partnership.”
The summit also paved the way for pilot projects focused on kelp forest restoration and sea urchin management, integrating scientific knowledge and industry innovation from both countries.
Mikiko Makka, Managing Director of moova, added:
“By bringing together leaders from Japan and Australia, we are advancing not just marine sustainability but also meaningful, long-term relationships. These partnerships are essential to achieving shared goals and mutual prosperity.”
Acknowledgments
The organizers extend their sincere thanks to the Australia–Japan Foundation for fostering bilateral collaboration and to the Tasmanian Government for its ongoing leadership in sustainable marine initiatives.
About the Organizers
Kita-Sanriku Factory Inc.: A leader in sustainable aquaculture from Japan, dedicated to ecological restoration and marine resource utilization.
General Incorporated Association moova: An organization promoting sustainability, innovation, and cultural exchange on the marine environment.
University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS): A globally recognized research institute specializing in marine ecosystems and environmental science.
Kita-Sanriku Factory and Yanmar Launch Pilot Project for Land-Based Sea Urchin Aquaculture
Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., and Kita-Sanriku Factory Co., Ltd. launched a full-scale pilot project on April 1, 2025, to develop a land-based sea urchin aquaculture system aimed at addressing “Isoyake”, or coastal ocean desertification.
The project is part of the Japan’s Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) program, which was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in October 2024. The project, with a total budget of 920 million yen, will focus on scalable, short-term aquaculture technology for deployment both in Japan and overseas.
The two companies will construct a large-scale land-based aquaculture facility in Hirono, Iwate Prefecture, with completion scheduled for autumn 2025. The facility will showcase UNI-VERSE systems®, an aquaculture solution designed to accelerate sea urchin growth and improve quality. The goal is to demonstrate efficient breeding systems capable of producing high-quality sea urchins for both local markets and export.
Tackling Isoyake with Regenerative Aquaculture
Isoyake, or coastal ocean desertification, a growing environmental issue characterized by the loss of seaweed beds along Japan’s coastal areas. In response to the threat of ocean desertification, which is partially attributed to overgrazing of seaweed by marine organisms such as sea urchins, Kita-Sanriku Factory has started an initiative called “Sea Urchin Regeneration and Cultivation”. This project aims to transform undernourished sea urchins – previously discarded as having no commercial value – into premium seafood products. By feeding the sea urchins for a short period of time, the company was able to greatly improve the size, color, and quality, and succeeded in realizing a taste comparable to that of the natural product. This advancement also enables year-round shipping, including the winter months when sea urchin are typically not available. It is also expected that the land-based aquaculture system will allow seaweed beds to recover, alleviating the problem of Isoyake.
This system was developed over more than seven years in collaboration with Associate Professor Ura and his team at Hokkaido University. The sea urchin feed “Hagukumutane®” and the structure of the fish tank and water tank are patented technologies of the Kita-Sanriku Factory.
■ Yanmar Holdings’ Aquaculture-Related Technologies for Sustainable Fisheries
The Yanmar Group brings extensive expertise in land-based aquaculture systems, including fish tanks, automated tank washers, and shellfish seed technologies. The company’s advanced fluid analysis and automatic cleaning technologies will help optimize environmental controls in the new aquaculture system. Together with Kita-Sanriku Factory, Yanmar aims to refine the UNI-VERSE systems® technology to enable the efficient and sustainable production of high-quality sea urchins for export.
■Global Reach and Export Plans
While international demand for Japanese sea urchins is increasing, securing a high-quality supply has become more difficult due to a rise in the number of “skinny” sea urchins with extremely small gonads, the edible part of sea urchins. The regenerative aquaculture model developed by Kita-Sanriku Factory, in collaboration with the Graduate School of Fisheries Science of Hokkaido University and other research institutions, aims to address this supply gap and promote sustainable practices worldwide.
Kita-Sanriku Factory plans to export UNI-VERSE systems® sea urchins to the EU, the U.S., Dubai, Thailand, and other countries around the world. In 2025, the company will exhibit at four major seafood fairs in the world in Barcelona, Boston, Dubai, and Bangkok, establishing a global commercial distribution network.
About Yanmar
Founded in Osaka in 1912, Yanmar was the first industrial machinery manufacturer in the world to successfully commercialize a compact diesel engine in 1933. In the fields of “land,” “sea,” and “city,” Yanmar is globally expanding its business in agriculture, construction machinery, marine, energy systems, and other fields, centered on engines and other powertrains. Aiming to be an environmentally burden-free and GHG-free company, we provide solutions that create value for our customers. Based on Yanmar’s “HANASAKA” values, which nurture the future, we will realize “A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE” as our brand statement.
Kita-Sanriku Factory is a leading company developing high-quality sea urchin brands in the town of Hirono, Iwate Prefecture, home to the world’s only “Sea Urchin Farm ®︎”. With the mission of “Enriching the world’s oceans from Kita Sanriku,” the company is leveraging its expertise in raising high-quality sea urchins to connect with the world through its new “sea urchin regenerative aquaculture system” technology and promote initiatives to create a sustainable future for the marine industry. We established an Australian corporation in 2023 and are expanding our business both domestically and internationally.
Yukinori Shitautsubo, CEO of Kita-Sanriku Factory, has been selected for Forbes JAPAN NEXT100
The “NEXT100” is an annual feature project by Forbes JAPAN, which selects 100 next-generation entrepreneurs from across the country who are engaged in innovative businesses and initiatives of high social significance.
In this year’s selection, we were highly praised for its regenerative aquaculture model that restores seaweed beds and ecosystems while adding value to sea urchins that have lost their original value due to rocky shore scorching in areas where rocky shore scorching is becoming more serious. Furthermore, our CEO’s attitude of opening up new possibilities for the global fisheries industry based on the recycling of local resources has led to expectations that he is an entrepreneur who will lead the blue economy.
