Fishpass Inc. (Headquarters: Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture; Representative Director: Shigehiro Nishimura) announced on July 21 that it won first place at the final selection event of the prize-based program "NEDO Challenge, Satellite Data - Updating Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries with Satellite Data!" implemented by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization).
The company was selected for first place in "Theme 2: Technology Development Contributing to the Advancement of Resource Management, Monitoring, and Logistics," which targets the sophistication of resource management and surveillance, securing a prize of 10 million yen. The winning proposal, titled "Digital Transformation (DX) of Inland Fisheries via eDNA x Satellite Data," aims to advance fishing ground maintenance, stocking plans, and resource management by scientifically visualizing optimal fish habitats through the combination of environmental DNA (eDNA) and satellite data.
By combining the biological abundance at water sampling points obtained through "eDNA" surveys with "satellite data" that continuously captures extensive environmental information such as vegetation and topography, the company visualizes on a map "which areas are most suitable for fish habitation."
In Japan's inland fisheries, the burden of continuous surveying and resource management is growing heavier due to climate change, the aging of cooperative members, and a lack of successors. By utilizing this technology to efficiently narrow down the locations that require surveying, limited personnel and budgets can be utilized more effectively. This will ultimately help pass down local aquatic resources and river fishing culture to the next generation.
Currently, the company operates a recreational fishing ticket service that connects fishing cooperatives and anglers nationwide, while also developing the "Sumika Map" (Habitat Map), which visualizes biological information from eDNA on a map. With this proposal, the company plans to continuously collect field data through its nationwide network of fishing cooperatives and update and refine the suitable habitat estimation model by incorporating expert knowledge from universities and other institutions.
Moving forward, they are considering applications for visualizing a wide range of living organisms and natural environments—not just fish, but also crustaceans, seaweed, aquatic insects, and mammals. Their policy is to expand demonstration areas and accumulate data in collaboration with fishing cooperatives, local governments, and research institutions.
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■ Related Websites
ICT Startup League
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Fishpass Inc. (Official Website)
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Fishpass Inc. (LEAGUE MEMBER)
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NEDO Challenge, Satellite Data Official Website
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Original Press Release
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