Toyama Prefecture has begun the first ecological survey to release the fish "black scraper," which is known as the winter taste of Toyama Bay and whose population is declining, to the sea with an electronic label.
Black scraper, a member of the Kawahagi family, is a popular fish with a chewy texture and rich umami liver, and is known as the winter taste of Toyama Bay.
However, as the population is declining nationwide, the Toyama Prefectural Fisheries Research Institute has begun the first ecological survey to attach an electronic label and release it into the sea.
The electronic sign is about 2 cm in length and width, and is attached to the dorsal fin called the "horn" that protrudes from the head of the black scraper, and records the water temperature and depth every hour.
On the 25th, the staff of the research institute carried a water tank containing 20 black scrapers for investigation to the port of Namerikawa City by truck, and released it offshore on a research vessel.
In the future, we will collect the electronic labels of the caught black scraper and analyze the relationship between the water temperature and the catch.
Yoichi Seto, Deputy Senior Researcher of the Toyama Prefectural Fisheries Research Institute, said, "Since there were no catches in 2019 and 2020, which were record warm winters, I think there may be some relationship between water temperature and catch. In the future, we will be able to predict the catch. "