Japan has started growing Atlantic salmon on land

In the mountainous industrial area of Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, the foreign company Pure Salmon Japan is constructing a large-scale land-based Atlantic salmon farming complex. The project is estimated at approximately 80 billion yen. The facility covers an area of about 140,000 square meters, and its launch took place in May 2026.

Currently, the enterprise houses about one million juveniles obtained from roe in huge controlled-environment tanks. The fish reach a length of approximately 7 centimeters and weigh about 5 grams. The recirculating system makes it possible to maintain water quality, protect the fish from diseases and parasites, and reduce the need for special treatments and injections.

Water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels are controlled by computers, while staff monitor system operations around the clock. The project provides for water purification and reuse. The full fish-rearing cycle takes about two years. The first batch of marketable salmon weighing approximately 5 kilograms each is scheduled to be ready for harvesting in February 2028. It is planned that the enterprise will supply about 10,000 tonnes of fish to the market annually.

The choice of location in Mie Prefecture is due to a combination of natural conditions, a quiet environment that reduces stress levels in the fish, and transport accessibility to key markets, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. The company intends to sell fresh fish without freezing at prices comparable to the cost of traditional salmon, and is also considering the possibility of using a regional brand, such as "Mie Salmon".