MIE - A massive land-based Atlantic salmon farming facility is taking shape in a mountainous industrial district of Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, where foreign-owned Pure Salmon Japan has begun raising approximately one million young fish as part of an 80 billion yen project that is expected to become one of the world's largest operations of its kind, with plans to ship 10,000 tons of salmon annually from February 2028.
Salmon has long been a familiar part of Japanese cuisine, with traditional Japanese salmon commonly served grilled with salt, while Atlantic salmon has become particularly popular as a sushi topping. Wild salmon caught in waters around Hokkaido and Russia has traditionally supplied Japanese consumers, while farm-raised Atlantic salmon imported from countries such as Norway has established a major presence in the market.
Now, however, a large-scale project is bringing Atlantic salmon production much closer to Japanese consumers, not in coastal waters but inside a factory complex surrounded by mountains in central Japan.
Inside the facility in Tsu City, enormous tanks contain large numbers of young salmon swimming in carefully controlled water. Approximately one million Atlantic salmon have been hatched from eggs and are currently being raised at the site, with the fish reaching around 7 centimeters in length and weighing approximately 5 grams each.
The factory occupies a site measuring approximately 140,000 square meters, equivalent to roughly three times the area of Vantelin Dome Nagoya.
Operated by Pure Salmon Japan, a foreign-owned company specializing in land-based Atlantic salmon farming, the facility began operations in May 2026. Construction is continuing even as the first generation of fish is being raised, with the completed complex expected to rank among the largest land-based Atlantic salmon farming facilities in the world.
The total investment is estimated at approximately 80 billion yen, reflecting the enormous scale of the project and the growing interest in developing domestic salmon production to serve Japan's substantial seafood market.
Unlike conventional salmon farms, which raise fish in cages suspended in coastal waters, the Mie facility uses an enclosed land-based system designed to maintain strict control over water quality and protect fish from diseases and parasites.
Pure Salmon Japan President Erol Emed, who is originally from Turkey, explained that one of the principal advantages of land-based farming is the ability to prevent pathogens and parasites from entering the breeding environment.
Because the salmon are raised in enclosed tanks rather than the open sea, the company can substantially reduce the risk of disease and parasite infestations, eliminating the need for certain treatments and injections commonly associated with conventional aquaculture.
The facility is also equipped with systems that clean and recycle water contaminated by fish waste and other substances, allowing the salmon to be raised continuously in a controlled and hygienic environment.
Water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels are monitored and regulated by computers, while staff supervise operations around the clock to ensure that strict standards are maintained and abnormalities are detected quickly.
The controlled environment is expected to allow the company to raise salmon to market size without exposing them to many of the environmental uncertainties associated with ocean-based aquaculture.
According to the company's production schedule, the first harvest is planned for February 2028, when the initial generation of Atlantic salmon is expected to have reached approximately 5 kilograms per fish.
The production cycle will take about two years from hatching to harvest, with the completed facility aiming to produce approximately two million salmon annually, equivalent to 10,000 tons.
Japan's strong appetite for salmon was a major factor in the company's decision to establish operations in the country, but the selection of Mie Prefecture, and particularly a mountainous industrial area away from the coast, was influenced by several additional considerations.
Emed said the location offered an attractive combination of natural surroundings, a quiet environment and convenient access to major population centers.
He described the surrounding landscape as clean and peaceful, making it particularly suitable for raising fish under conditions designed to minimize stress.
The site also benefits from its position within reach of major consumer markets, including Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.
According to Emed, these geographical advantages made the location an especially fortunate choice for the company.
The relative quiet of the mountainous district is considered beneficial because it reduces environmental disturbances that could cause stress to the fish, while the transportation links offer practical advantages for distributing fresh salmon to customers across Japan.
The company plans to begin commercial shipments around February 2028, delivering salmon from Tsu City without freezing it to preserve freshness.
Despite the substantial investment required to construct and operate the facility, Pure Salmon Japan hopes to offer its products at prices comparable to those of conventionally marketed salmon.
This pricing strategy is intended to make domestically raised Atlantic salmon accessible to ordinary Japanese consumers rather than positioning it exclusively as a premium product.
Emed said he particularly hopes that residents of Mie Prefecture and the surrounding Kinki and Nagoya regions will have opportunities to enjoy salmon produced locally.
Because the salmon will be raised and harvested in Japan, the company expects to be able to distribute fresh products to nearby markets without the lengthy international transportation required for imported Atlantic salmon.
The company is also considering how to market the fish under a distinctive brand name, although no final decision has been made.
Asked whether the locally produced salmon might receive a recognizable regional identity, Emed suggested that a name such as "Mie Salmon" could be a possibility.
He emphasized, however, that the company had not yet settled on a brand.
With construction continuing and the first generation of salmon already growing inside the facility, the project could eventually establish Atlantic salmon as another locally produced food associated with Mie Prefecture, a region already known for its seafood and agricultural products.
The planned launch of commercial shipments in February 2028 will mark a major milestone for the project, potentially bringing millions of domestically farmed Atlantic salmon to Japanese dining tables each year from an industrial complex far from the sea.
Source: Nagoya TV News
