Yuki Minegishi of the International Coastal Research Center

Restoring the fishing industry through scientific research

Tokyo University’s International Coastal Research Center, in Otsuchi, studies the currents, composition, nutrients and creatures of the sea. Ms. Minegishi, a researcher there, studies salmon from a biological perspective.

She spoke about the value of her work. “The aim of the center is to collect fundamental information, and to assemble scientific expertise. In Otsuchi, salmon are a big part of the fishing industry. They’re such interesting creatures, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about them. By studying key aspects of their ecosystem, such as their distribution and environment, we can help with the revival of Otsuchi’s fishing industry, while simultaneously preserving and managing its ocean resources.”

Research with roots in the community

“The center suffered damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, but it was fully reopened last year. This July, we held an event where people could learn more about the sea. There were displays of native fish, and a seaweed-pressing workshop. We’re heavily involved in the community here, and I’d like to deepen our communication with the town,” Ms. Minegishi said. The center’s community-focused research is set to continue into the future.

Profile

Yuki Minegishi
Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo
International Coastal Research Center
Researcher of Coastal Preservation

Originally from Saitama. After completing post-graduate studies in the field of biology, she spent five years in France and the Netherlands as a postdoctoral researcher. She returned to Japan, and in 2012 she began working as a researcher at Tohoku University’s graduate school.

In April 2016, she became a special researcher at Tokyo University’s International Coastal Research Center in Otsuchi, and is currently researching salmon ecology.