Market Overview

As the world's population grows, food insecurity continues to worsen. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ (MAFF) food balance sheet, global demand for fishery products is increasing, even as the seafood supply per person in Japan declines.

Against this backdrop, ensuring a stable seafood supply through domestic aquaculture has become increasingly important, both within Japan and internationally. This study examines five types of next-generation aquaculture technologies: “smart aquaculture,” which uses ICT-based systems such as automatic fish feeding and fish growth management; “land-based aquaculture systems,” which enable fish production on land; “aquaponics,” an integrated farming system that reuses waste from aquaculture to cultivate plants; “low-fishmeal feed,” which contains a reduced proportion of fishmeal; and “insect-protein feed,” which is made from insect-derived ingredients.

Based on manufacturer shipment values, the domestic market size for these five next-generation aquaculture technology segments was estimated at 68.288 billion yen in FY2024. Specifically, the values were as follows: low-fishmeal feed, 56.554 billion yen; land-based aquaculture systems (semi-closed-loop and closed-loop recirculating systems), 9.946 billion yen; smart aquaculture (automatic fish feeding systems and fish growth management systems), 1.12 billion yen; aquaponics, 563 million yen; and insect-protein feed, 150 million yen.

Noteworthy Topics

Full-Scale Implementation of Aquaponics in Japan

Aquaponics is a system that integrates aquaculture (fish production) with hydroponics (growing plants in water). Japan introduced this system in the 2010s and began full-scale implementation in the 2020s.
The system is characterized by the recirculation of water for the cultivation of both fish and plants. Fish waste and other byproducts that were previously discarded are now utilized as plant nutrients.
In aquaponic systems, plants are cultivated in hydroponic setups that circulate water to and from aquaculture tanks. These systems are commonly used to grow leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, as well as herbs.  
Because the water is continuously recirculated, freshwater is generally used instead of seawater. The fish produced are typically freshwater species, such as sturgeon and tilapia. However, Japan has also been researching seawater-based aquaponics, as marine fish are more commonly produced through aquaculture.

Future Outlook

Based on manufacturer shipment values, the domestic market size of the next-generation aquaculture technologies is expected to reach 77.763 billion yen by FY2029. Specifically, the low-fishmeal feed segment is expected to reach 62.711 billion yen; land-based aquaculture systems (semi-closed-loop and closed-loop recirculating systems) are expected to generate 9.893 billion yen; smart aquaculture systems (automatic fish feeding and growth management) are expected to be valued at 2.823 billion yen; aquaponics is expected to reach 1.798 billion yen; and insect-protein feed is expected to generate 538 million yen.

The market for smart aquaculture is forecast to grow, driven by the expansion of marine aquaculture areas and greater efficiency and automation in fish feeding.

The land-based aquaculture market is projected to expand through FY2026, as large-scale facilities are constructed. However, construction activity is expected to decline after FY2027, causing the market size in FY2029 to return to a level similar to that in FY2024.

The aquaponics market appears promising, supported by an expected increase in the number of facilities, broader adoption by medium- and large-sized companies, and a wider variety of plants and aquatic species cultivated through seawater-based aquaponics. In addition, land-based aquaculture continues to attract growing attention.

The low-fishmeal feed market is expected to experience modest growth as rising fishmeal prices stabilize and overall demand continues to expand steadily.

The insect-protein feed market is anticipated to grow further, driven by increased adoption amid greater attention to improving the immunity of cultured fish. Insect-protein feed is recognized not only as a high-value feed that enhances fish immunity, but also as a product that can be mass-produced domestically.

Research Outline