Marine Birth, a joint venture between F&LC and Takuyo　First shipment of artificially bred yellowtail seedlings in 2025; growth remained steady even during the high-temperature summer period　for  the Conservation of Natural Resources and Stable Procurement　

---

Marineverse Co., Ltd. (Head office: Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture; President and CEO: Uchu Yamamoto; hereinafter referred to as “Marineverse”), a joint venture between FOOD & LIFE COMPANIES Co., Ltd. (Head office: Suita City, Osaka Prefecture; President and CEO: Masahiro Yamamoto; hereinafter referred to as “F&LC”) and Takuyo Co., Ltd. (Head office: Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture; President and CEO: Uchu Yamamoto; hereinafter referred to as “Takuyo”), began selling its own artificially developed yellowtail seedlings (juvenile fish) to aquaculture operators in June 2025.
We are also pleased to report for the first time that these artificially hatched yellowtail have overcome one of the first hurdles, the high water temperatures of summer from July to September, and are growing well. After a period of cultivation at Owase Bussan Co., Ltd. (Head office: Owase City, Mie Prefecture; President and CEO: Hiroyuki Ono; hereinafter “Owase Bussan”), some of these artificially hatched yellowtail are scheduled to be sold at Sushiro, a restaurant operated by F&LC, in 2027.

Through this initiative, F&LC will work to protect the marine environment and ensure stable procurement by securing sustainable marine resources that do not rely on natural resources.

Yellowtail fry growth status at a sales site (photographed in late November 2025)

■Background and Objectives
While yellowtail is a popular fish species for aquaculture in Japan, the majority of seedlings are sourced from the wild. The supply of wild seedlings is highly dependent on the season and environmental conditions, including the fact that yellowtail’s spawning season is limited to spring through early summer (April to July).
In addition to the issue of fluctuations in the catch of wild seedlings due to changes in the marine environment caused by global warming in recent years, it is becoming increasingly difficult for marine organisms to survive the high water temperatures of summer and grow.
Against this backdrop, Marineverse began research aimed at realizing full-scale aquaculture, in order to protect natural resources while ensuring a stable supply of yellowtail that is less affected by the marine environment. After extensive research, a test production of artificial seedlings was successful in 2024. The first seedlings were sold in 2025, and they were able to survive this summer’s high water temperatures. Going forward, these seedlings will grow into adults, and eggs will be collected and hatched again, creating a cycle of raising the seedlings for full-scale aquaculture, thereby achieving both further protection of natural resources and a stable supply.
Another advantage of farmed seafood is that the taste can be controlled by managing the breeding environment and feed, and it has a good fat content, allowing us to provide it to customers in a stable manner.
At Marineverse, we aim to achieve sustainable procurement and are committed to promoting full-scale yellowtail aquaculture in order to continue providing delicious meals to everyone.

■About Marineverse　
Marineverse was established in April 2022 by F&LC, which operates Sushiro, and Takuyo, which has the seed and aquaculture production technology for red sea bream and bluefin tuna, with the aim of ensuring stable procurement while making limited marine resources sustainable.

Company name: 　Marineverse Ltd.
Address:　 1-1 Kengunhonmachi, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, 862-0910
Representative: 　Representative Director Sou Yamamoto
Business: 　Sales of artificial red sea bream seedlings, sales of feed, research and development of artificial yellowtail seedlings, and sales
Capital: 　5 million yen

■The History of the Marineverse
2022:
April: Marineverse established
June: Prior to yellowtail, Takuyo’s artificial red sea bream seedlings were sold, and at the same time, feed sales began.
Exchanged information with several aquaculture companies and began working on red sea bream aquaculture.

2023:
October: Started DNA analysis of artificially hatched yellowtail in a joint research project with Platinum Bio, commissioned by Hiroshima University.

2024:
February: Artificially inseminated yellowtail eggs were collected and artificial seedling production tests were conducted.
Starting in July, red sea bream raised by several aquaculture companies will be sold for the first time at some Sushiro stores from 2022.

2025:
February: Collection of artificially inseminated yellowtail eggs and production of artificial seedlings
June: First sale of artificial yellowtail seedlings and feed to Owase Bussan Co., Ltd., a capital partner of F&LC.
　　　　

■About artificial seedlings
Instead of capturing eggs or fry in the wild, this refers to fry (seedlings) that are hatched and raised in an artificial environment (such as an aquarium) by collecting eggs from parent fish.

■About full-scale aquaculture
This is an aquaculture technique that completes the cycle of artificially hatched and raised seedlings (artificial seedlings) growing into parent fish, collecting eggs from those parent fish again, and raising the fry to adulthood without relying on natural resources.

This text was automatically translated.

<Contact for media inquiries regarding this matter>FOOD & LIFE COMPANIES, Inc. Public Relations Office, Public Relations Division TEL: 06-6368-1063 (weekdays excluding weekends and holidays)
Email:press@food-and-life.co.jp
URL:https://www.food-and-life.co.jp/

Back to list