[Pal System Federation] Ibaraki Prefecture’s first eel habitat monitoring “Ishikura Cage” installation commemorative ceremony September 19th (Thursday) [Ibaraki Tochigi]
*PAL System Federation*
Press release: September 11, 2024
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Ibaraki Prefecture’s first eel habitat monitoring “Ishikura Cage” installation commemorative ceremony September 19th (Thursday) [Ibaraki Tochigi]
*Transferring knowledge from Kagoshima Osumi Peninsula to Ramsar Convention-registered wetlands*
The Pal System Consumers’ Cooperative Union (Headquarters: Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Chairman: Masakazu Onobu) will hold a ceremony at Oyakazawa Park Campground in Hinumahotori, Ibaraki Prefecture (Ibaraki-cho, Higashi-Ibaraki-gun) from 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 19th. We will hold a ceremony to commemorate the
installation of the “Ishikura Basket”. In order to recover eel resources, we established a council with the Osumi District Fishing Cooperative Association (Kushira-cho, Kanoya City, Representative Director Shigeo Kusuda), and by leveraging the knowledge we have gained through continuous stocking monitoring, we are collaborating with Kyushu University, the prefectural government, and the fisheries cooperative association. With the cooperation of , we will begin a habitat survey in Hinuma.
Also considering holding creature observation sessions with users. “Ishikura Kago” is an artificial eel breeding reef that is placed in a river by filling a net cage with stones. Eels prey on creatures that live in the crevices of the stones, creating a habitat that protects them from waterfowl. The installation of stone warehouse baskets in Hinuma is the first attempt in the prefecture, and was realized after a survey that began in December 2023. In conducting the survey, we received the cooperation of Noritaka Mochioka, a specially appointed professor and agricultural researcher at Kyushu University who studies the ecology and resource recovery of the Japanese eel.
The ceremony was attended by Pal System Ibaraki and other local organizations, including the Pal System Federation, Ibaraki
Prefecture, Ibaraki Town Hall, the Ohinuma Fisheries Cooperative, and the NPO Hinuma Ecosystem Restoration Project.
Officials from Tochigi will also participate. Participants enter the swamp, carry stones, and sink stone storage baskets. After the Ishikura baskets are installed, we plan to conduct monitoring several times a year and encourage users to participate.
Hinuma is a wetland registered under the Ramsar Convention and boasts one of the prefecture’s greatest biodiversity. Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi collaborates with the Hinuma Ecosystem Restoration Project and holds a “Hinuma Creature Observation” with users every year. We will work with users and various local organizations to spread
understanding of eel resource recovery.
▲Ishikura basket installation in a river in Kagoshima Prefecture * Eel resource recovery activities also extend to Kanto*
In 2013, the Pal System Federation received the designation of the Nihon eel as an endangered species and established the Osumi Eel Resource Recovery Council together with the Osumi District Farmers’ Association. In order to protect Japan’s food culture and local industry, we set aside money based on the number of products used and donations from users as support funds, and use them for research and public relations activities to recover eel resources and improve river environments. I’m doing it.
In 2015, with the cooperation of Mr. Mochioka, we began a monitoring survey by releasing eel fry on the Osumi Peninsula and installing stone cages. We also hold a production site tour every year where users can experience research, and convey the significance of the production efforts and environmental conservation activities of the production area.
Pal System will continue to pursue sustainable production and consumption in collaboration with people from a variety of positions in order to protect the rich local environment and industry. * Overview of eel monitoring “Ishikura Cage” installation
commemorative ceremony *
[Date and time] September 19, 2024 (Thursday) 13:30-15:45
[Venue] Oyasawa Park Campsite (4144-4 Kamishizaki, Ibaraki-machi, Higashiibaraki-gun)
[Participating organizations]
Osumi Eel Resource Recovery Council, Ibaraki Prefecture, Ibaraki Town Hall, Ohinuma Fisheries Cooperative, NPO Hinuma Ecosystem Restoration Project, Pal System Consumers Cooperative Union, Consumers Cooperative Pal System Ibaraki
Tochigi
【schedule】
13:30 Stone warehouse basket installation ceremony
・Opening speech: Hideo Nozu, Product Development Headquarters, Pal System Consumers Cooperative Association
・Explanation on how to install stone storage baskets and precautions: Noritaka Mochioka, Kyushu University
・Congratulatory speech: Ibaraki Prefecture
14:15 Stone warehouse basket installation work
*A study session will be held prior to the ceremony.
[Time] 10:00-11:30
[Venue] Ibaraki Town Komaba Government Building (450 Komaba, Ibaraki Town, Higashiibaraki District)
[Contents] Pal System Initiatives (Pal System Federation Fisheries Division Toyohara) / Eel study session (Lecturer: Mr. Mochioka) Consumers’ Cooperative Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi
Address: 2-1-39 Umeka, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Chairman: Yasuyo Aoki Capital investment: 6.98 billion yen, number of association members: 140,000, total business volume: 18.16 billion yen (as of the end of March 2024)
HP: https://www.palsystem-ibaraki.coop/
Pal System Consumers Cooperative Association
Address: 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Chairman: Masakazu Dainobu 13 members / members using the unified business system Total business volume: 254.1 billion yen / Total number of members: 1.735 million (as of the end of March 2024)
Member co-ops: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi
Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Mutual Aid Federation, Saitama Workers’ Co-op, Ai-Corp Miyagi
HP: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/