Currently, approximately 1,500 Benizake are being raised in a 20-ton tank at Ichii’s headquarters. The eggs arrived in November last year and began hatching by mid-December. Once the fry reached the size of killifish, they were transferred from the hatching tanks into the main rearing system. The fish have since grown to 13–15 cm in length and are actively swimming throughout the tank. Initial shipments are expected to begin sometime after next summer.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Fukushima Prefecture, the subsidy targets former evacuation zones and other areas severely impacted by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The program aims to support companies building new factories or expanding existing facilities, create employment opportunities for affected residents, accelerate self-reliance and repopulation, and stimulate industrial recovery. Additionally, the initiative is intended to revitalize commercial activity, encouraging the return of residents and the establishment of new industries.
Moving forward, OUS, NTT East, and Ichii will work closely with Namie Town to advance project planning, with the goal of completing the new aquaculture facility by 2026.
