Miyagi Prefecture Aims for Fishermen to Switch to Pearl Cultivation as Catch Volumes of Other Shellfish Drop

Akoya pearl oysters have been found off the coasts of Miyagi and Iwate prefectures since last year. While the northern limit of their habitat on the Pacific side was previously considered to be off the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, rising sea temperatures may be influencing the shift. Miyagi Prefecture started surveying the population of pearl oysters in November and is actively pursuing pearl cultivation research with the aim of creating a new income source for fishermen.