― Mass Production and Commercialization of grouper fish with a Survival Rate of 94% and Growth Rate Three Times Higher
 
On February 13th, a mid-term results presentation was held at Tsuno Town Hall in Miyazaki Prefecture to report on the land-based aquaculture of "Tamakai" (giant grouper) and the hybrid "Quetama" (a crossbreed of long tooth grouper and giant grouper) using the Third Water® technology. This project, a collaboration between Okayama University of Science (OUS), Tsuno Town, and NTT East and West Japan, began over ten months ago. It was announced that the complete closed-loop land-based aquaculture of these fish species was a "world first," with plans focusing on the mass production and commercialization of grouper fish, which has shown a high survival rate (approx. 94.2%) and a growth rate about three times faster than sea-based aquaculture.
 
The land-based aquaculture in Tsuno Town, part of the "Fisheries Dream Future Project," started in April 2023. The trial aquaculture facility, which includes two 7.4-ton tanks, houses 224 juvenile grouper fish, each about 7-8 cm long, and 53 hybrid Quetama, each about 35 cm long, which can grow up to 3 meters long.
 
Tsuno town Mayor Hiroaki Sakata, OUS Vice President Yoshiko Minami, OUS Visiting Professor Seiichi Tsumura, Hirotaka Kobayashi, Division Manager of Business Development at NTT East Japan, and Kenichiro Otomo, Deputy Branch Manager at NTT West Japan's Miyazaki Branch, attended the presentation. OUS Associate Professor Toshimasa Yamamoto from the Faculty of Engineering, who is researching land-based aquaculture, participated online. Media representatives and town council members also attended.
 
Following Mayor Sakata's remarks, OUS Vice President Minami addressed the attendees, stating, "Since our university, Tsuno Town, and NTT East and West Japan signed an agreement for interdisciplinary collaboration in December 2022, this project has achieved significant results. I am delighted with these achievements and am committed to further revitalizing Tsuno Town." Following her, Division Manager Kobayashi emphasized the importance of the day's achievements, saying, "I believe today marks a turning point that will connect to the future."
 
During the presentation of the results, Mayor Sakata explained, "Based on these achievements, we plan to collaborate with the Tsuno Town Fisheries Cooperative and local fisheries stakeholders to promote and realize the Fisheries Dream Future Project and to consider establishing a full-scale mass production system for grouper fish." Masaya Miwa from the "Tsuno Fisheries Promotion and Processed Products Development Council," who is in charge of breeding, noted, "With the mechanization of tasks such as cleaning the tanks, adjusting water temperature, and water quality, even amateurs can easily manage daily inspections as long as they don't neglect them. The most important aspects are an interest in living creatures and the sensitivity to notice subtle changes and slight discomfort."
 
Professor Yamamoto reported, "The survival rate for Quetama was 88.7%, with an average fish weight of 2,852 grams. In contrast, grouper fish had a survival rate of 94.2% and an average weight of 1,149 grams, demonstrating excellent growth. The growth rate of grouper fish was approximately three times that of sea-based aquaculture, which is a remarkable result." He also highlighted the technical achievements, noting, "Utilizing ICT for remote guidance significantly contributed to preventing potential issues."
 
NTT East Japan, which supported this land-based aquaculture project with ICT, stated, "To ensure that breeders without aquaculture experience could confidently engage in aquaculture tasks on-site, we digitized and visualized environmental conditions and water quality parameters that affect fish growth, as well as the growth status of the fish. This allowed for accurate remote guidance from OUS. By accumulating skills and know-how, we were able to achieve a high level of aquaculture that had no previous examples."
 
After the presentation, there was a tasting session during which participants sampled sashimi and sushi made from grouper fish. Media representatives who sampled the dishes commented, "It has a firm texture and is quite satisfying to eat," and "It has a chewy texture, and the more you chew, the more flavor comes out."
 
This trial aquaculture facility represents the first phase of the project. The second phase involves planning and examining aquaculture using 40-ton tanks. The project aims to gradually expand the production scale and step up towards full-scale production in the future.