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FRD Japan to build land-based trout farm in Chiba

Japanese recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) company FRD Japan announced plans to build a land-based trout farm in the Chiba Prefecture.

The company said it aims to produce 3,500 metric tons of rainbow trout by 2027 from the facility. Chiba is known for having the longest stretch of coastline in Japan and being home to the country’s two Disney parks.

FRD Japan began with farming salmon in land-based facilities in Chiba and Saitama Prefecture north of Tokyo in 2018.

Seafood demand and ecological concerns are fueling a growth in RAS operations in Japan.

“After operating pilot plants for five years, FRD is now ready to move into commercial operations,” a press release from FRD Japan said. “The experimental plants have farmed more than 20 generations of fish and have demonstrated stable trout production without depending on the sea by maintaining an ideal water quality through a unique closed recirculation aquaculture system.”

The planned facility in Chiba is being built with capital from allotment of shares to third parties. FRD has reached agreements with Air Water Inc., STI Food Holdings, Inc., Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., Haseko Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and MUFG Bank, Ltd. to raise a total of ¥21 billion (US$148.7 million) through a third-party allotment of new shares.

FRD also entered into a loan agreement with The Keiyo Bank Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Ltd., and Resona Bank Ltd. to finance the construction of the plant.

FRD said it aims to develop multiple land-based aquaculture plants for farming salmonoids with a maximum capacity of 10,000 metric tons per plant, mainly in Asia, including Japan.