History and Evolution of the Underutilized Fish Utilization Project in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture - 2011-2020s

History and Evolution of the Underutilized Fish Utilization Project in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture - 2011-2020s

In 2011, a local fish processing company in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, launched a business aimed at utilizing unused fish. Initially, the company purchased small and off-specification fish that were not traded in the market directly from local fishermen and processed approximately 150 tons per year. By commercializing these products as frozen foods and prepared foods, the company increased the fishermen's earnings by about 15%. In addition to being offered at local restaurants and tourist attractions, these products were also used as Gamagori City hometown tax return gifts, contributing to the local economy.

This initiative also contributed to the reduction of food loss, and by promoting energy efficiency in frozen storage and processing, achieved an annual reduction of approximately 50 tons of CO₂. Processed products such as the "Mikawa Bay Specialty Boiled Series" using unused fish were well received by local residents and tourists, and sales have steadily increased since 2011, attracting national attention.

In the 2020s, this business evolved further. Processing volume increased to approximately 200 tons per year and fishermen's earnings increased by more than 20%. New technologies were introduced to extract collagen and fish oil from underutilized fish, and cosmetics and health foods were developed as high value-added products. Sales of these related products increased by 40% year-on-year in 2023. In addition, through the introduction of renewable energy and the development of biomass fuels, the company has achieved an annual CO₂ reduction of 60 tons, and demonstration experiments are underway in the Mikawa Bay coastal area.

Cooperation with the tourism industry has also been strengthened, and the attraction of unused fish has been communicated through events such as the "Mikawa Bay Seafood Fair." The 2025 fair attracted approximately 30,000 visitors, bringing further vitality to the local economy.

In this way, the unused fish utilization project in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, has created a virtuous cycle in the areas of the local economy, the environment, and tourism, and is highly regarded as a model for sustainable fishing in Japan as a whole.