The Designation of Greeneye, Mehikari as the Symbol Fish of the Iwaki City

Fish are large animal group of about 25000 species, but the species that the whole lifecycle is elucidated is only several hundred species. The Pacific saury, Cololabis saira such an important species in fisheries which Aquamarine Fukushima made research, had not been studied enough. The ocean is surrounded by the mysteries so as to be equal to space. Iwaki City has established the greeneye, Chlorophthalmus albatrosis regulation as a symbol fish of the City in October 2001.　It followed and selected a pet name as a design of an emblem by an open call for participants. It is Mepikari. A Selection Committee was organized on the establishment. Fisheries Promotion Room of the City was in charge of the works. Present author, engaged in an aquarium was appointed as a chairman form the Selection Committee members who represented the fisheries of the district, fisheries experimental station, and consumers. Skipjack tuna as for Kochi Prefecture, Pacific saury as for Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture, and anglerfish as for Joban District in Ibaraki Prefecture, each have already made a brand. These are measure as well as in the quantity of fishery and amount of money. Warry crab, Benizuwai crosses the Japanese Islands. Fishery products always move for a more expensive price in the market. As for the argument of the Selection Committee, recognition of symbol establishment of the City did not agree between the producer members and consumer members. It was a result of a citizen questionnaire that put an end in argument. Greeneye was supported by citizen because it is delicious at a low price, separated greatly skipjack tuna, Pacific saury, and willow roundnose flounder. Each paper conveyed the process of the establishment, but it was the event that was made me to think about the fisheries what it should be in Japan. I considered the establishment of greeneye as the City fish, will be the measures of enlightening and playing for all or nothing in fisheries of Iwaki. The agriculture and fisheries have been declined since long time ago in Japan. Judging from aging of persons engaged, sunset may be approaching both agriculture and fisheries after ten years later. It was Japan which developed world marine resources by the far sea fisheries, but even self-support rate of marine products now is 45% or less in calorie basis. It is for the significance of greeneye establishment to have exposed light to “by catch” extending tens of millions for a quantity of world fishery of 100000000t, in addition to such a small fish for citizens having become a symbol. Biological investigation study of greeneye was consigned to the Aquamarine Fukushima from Iwaki City. In the Aquamarine Fukushima and Fukushima Fisheries Experimental Station, both sides made use of an advantage to have a breeding institution of aquatic creature, and collaboration of the staff who had common technology have begun. An opportunity of technology interchange became hold in an aquarium and a fisheries research organization. The result of Mehikari investigation study of the first year was reported in March 2003. This hits one part of the biology of greeneye with light though, but I express my sincere appreciation to the Mayor, Mr. Keisuke Shike who enabled this research and to the members of Fisheries Promotion Room of the City for their serious works.

Director of Aquamarine Fukushima Yoshitaka Abe