Hokkaido Fishermen Relieved that Sixty Percent of Oyster Spat Safe
(Translation from Hokkaido Shinbun April 27th)
(Yubetsu, Akkeshi) Damage to oyster spat farms in Miyagi Prefecture as a result of the Great Tohoku Earthquake & Tsunami was less than expected and growers in Hokkaido that rely on Miyagi spat should be able to take delivery of 60% of spat over last year. Oyster spat from Miyagi Pref. was delivered to Saroma and Akkeshi on April 15th from Ishinomaki. Fishing cooperatives in Saroma on the Okhotsk coastline, as well as 3 Fishing Cooperatives in Akkeshi had given up on obtaining spat after the earthquake on March 11. A sense of relief is spreading amongst the fishermen, who will be able to ship oysters as early as Autumn.
Oyster spat is delivered on 1-meter strands of rope. Multiple spat are attached to a single rope, which are called “Ichiren” (1 strand). It is estimated that 17,110 strands, or the equivalent of 60% of last season’s spat, will be delivered to the three fishing cooperatives in Saroma (Yubetsu, Saroma, Tokoro). Damage to Ishinomaki oyster farmers was minimal, and 5,200 strands from Ishinomaki were delivered to Yubetsu Fishing Cooperative members. The remainder will be obtained on May 3rd and will be distributed amongst the fishing cooperatives in line with their sales plans: Yubetsu (59%); Tokoro 30%; Saroma (11%). If future surveys show that damage is not as bad as thought, it may be possible to revise forecasts further upwards, up to 90% of last season.
Chairman of the Oyster Division of the Saroma Fishermen’s Cooperative, Kudo Teruyuki (49) said, “Everyone is very happy because we thought that this year’s catch would be zero. We appreciate that Miyagi farmers were able to cooperate even while they are dealing with the damage sustained as a result of the earthquake.”
In Akkeshi, it was confirmed that spat from two companies in Ishinomaki that was due to be delivered this Spring were not totally damaged and 12,000 strands, or 60% of last year’s stocks, have been secured. The stocks will be distributed among Akkeshi oyster famers in early May.
Damage was sustained to the Akkeshi Fishing Cooperative and it has been decided that spat will be raised collectively by Cooperative members rather than by individual farmers. Kudo stated "With increased local production of spat and supplies from Miyagi Pref, the future of the local oyster farming industry has been secured in the short term.”
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