News Release

  The earthquake and tsunami that struck in early March cut a swathe of destruction through northern Japan, and our thoughts go out to the victims and survivors of this disaster. The farmers of Japanese oysters in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures were also devastated by this tragedy, as the oyster farming industry in the area was all but wiped out. With the loss of mature oyster seed-stock in Miyagi, quickly restoring the oyster beds is a matter of particular concern.
  Against this backdrop, Yanmar has decided to bring its long accumulated unique skills in on-shore bivalve seedling production to assist in recovery efforts at the affected areas.
  Through its support of the “Japanese Oyster Aquaculture Recovery Assistance Project”, Yanmar hopes to restore to the peoples of the area access to fresh and safe marine resources, as soon as possible.

1. Project Outline:

Yanmar has joined with the Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Technology Institute, the Tohoku University Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture and the Fisheries Research Agency of the Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute to create the “Japanese Oyster Aquaculture Recovery Assistance Project”. The project is being carried out in cooperation with the Miyagi branch of the Japan Fisheries Cooperative and local aquaculture farmers. 
  The technology for on-shore production of bivalve larvae at Yanmar Marine Farm’s aquaculture research facility is contributing to swift recovery of the area’s Japanese oyster grounds, through establishment of healthy beds of mature seed-bearing oysters.

2. Organizations Involved in the Project and Their Roles:

Yanmar Co., Ltd - Yanmar Marine Farm (Oita prefecture, Japan)
Maintain a disease-free environment to raise surviving Miyagi prefecture Japanese oysters and collect their eggs.
Cultivate high density larva growth with Yanmar’s original technology for precise seawater filtration and artificial culture feed.
Deliver the larvae from Oita prefecture to Shiogama in Miyagi prefecture.
Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Technology Institute (Miyagi prefecture)
Collect surviving mature Japanese oysters from prefectural aquaculture farms, instruct local fishermen in how to conduct the ocean aquaculture trials, and monitor the state of the growing Japanese oysters.

Tohoku University Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture (Miyagi prefecture)
Test Japanese oyster larvae for disease before delivery by Yanmar.

Fisheries Research Agency of the Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute (Miyagi prefecture)
Raise Japanese oyster larvae in on-shore maturation tanks until they are large enough (approx. 0.5mm) to be attached to ropes and put out to sea.

3. Project Period (planned):

June to October 2011

4. Inquiries:

Public Relations Group,
General Affairs Dept., Yanmar Co., Ltd.
TEL:+81-6-6376-6212
FAX:+81-6-6372-2455
E-mail:koho@yanmar.co.jp