Yellowtail Culture Development and Solutions for the Future

The mariculture of yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata) has developed by taking advantage of abundant supplies of wild juveniles such as seed and sardines as feed. Other indispensable elements of this development were the existence of many suitable sites, such as the geographically complex inlets along the Japanese archipelago. The Japan Fish Feed Association supported the development of economical moisture pellets, extruded pellets, and granulated feeds for yellowtail to lower production costs and improve the quality of the products. The 1998 annual production of yellowtail culture in Japan was about 147,000 tons. As the number of yellowtail farms began to increase, disease outbreaks became frequent. Trials to culture yellowtail offshore or in land-based closed systems resulted in the production of high-quality meat and low pollution, but these methods do not yet seem to be sufficiently economical. Two promising technologies for maintaining a clean environment that should be considered are an autofeeding system and an integrated approach to culture. The problem for yellowtail culture today is the declining consumption by young people. Therefore, the culture of amberjack (Seriola dumerili), goldstriped amberjack (S. lalandi), and striped jack (Pseudocaranx dentex), which enjoy great popularity among the Japanese, should be increased to substitute for 30% of yellowtail production.