Salmon Enhancement Division

The Salmon Enhancement Division implements artificial hatching and stocking to maintain the Japanese Pacific salmon populations in line with plans formulated by the National government. In order to restore and stabilize Pacific salmon resources, which have been declining as a trend in recent years, the division collects and analyzes oceanographic and habitat data along coastal areas. It also strives to improve stock management and artificial hatching and stocking techniques by analyzing the relationship between release conditions (e.g.timing of release, body size) and the return rate through juvenile fish released from our division (all of which have been marked by otolith thermal marking method). The division's research and development conducts in cooperation with the Salmon Resources and Ecology Division. The Salmon Enhancement Division also strives to disseminate our achievements to non-profit private hatcheries.