Ryukoku University will begin developing an app that uses "environmental DNA" analysis technology to display the biota of each location on a river on a smartphone. For development, we will collaborate with Fishpass Co., Ltd., a startup company in Fukui Prefecture.
Approximately 3 rivers flow through Japan like capillaries, and it has been said to be a treasure trove of biodiversity. However, due to environmental changes caused by flood control construction during the period of economic growth, approximately 5000% of the approximately 400 species are now extinct or at risk of extinction (Ministry of the Environment Red List 43).
From a private perspective, local inland fishermen's cooperatives (fishermen's cooperatives) are responsible for preserving the river's fishery resources and the environment, and about two-thirds of the project costs are for stocking young fish and improving the environment. Environmental surveys for environmental improvement require a lot of time, manpower, and money, and there are also problems with the inability to secure a sufficient amount of data, as results vary depending on dangerous locations such as rapids and the surveyor's experience. Ta.
The solution to this problem is application development that utilizes ``environmental DNA'' analysis.
``Environmental DNA'' analysis is a technology that reveals the types of fish that live in each river basin using a single glass of water. In Japan, Professor Gen of Kobe University, chairman of the Environmental DNA Society, and Associate Professor Hiroki Yamanaka of the Biodiversity Science Research Center and Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Ryukoku University, are known as leading experts. Associate Professor Yamanaka has been implementing long-term, wide-area monitoring through "environmental DNA" analysis through surveys in the jurisdiction of the Yakunai Omono River Fisheries Association in 1 and surveys at 2022 sites in Lake Biwa in 2023.
The app being developed this time collects river water and sends it to a laboratory at Ryukoku University, and the results of an ``environmental DNA'' analysis are processed into a map of the distribution of fish, which varies by basin, and displayed on a map on a smartphone. thing. By viewing the app, anyone can easily obtain information useful for fishery management, such as the types of fish that exist in a river and seasonal changes in their distribution. By using this app, it is possible to conserve the environment and improve the management of fishing cooperatives at the same time.
Currently, they are developing a special kit that will allow them to sample water easily and accurately without any specialized knowledge, and are working on creating a series of mechanisms for collecting water, sending it to a laboratory, and providing data to an app.
Fish Pass Co., Ltd., which is developing the app in collaboration with Ryukoku University, is working on a sales system for river fishing permits (recreational fishing tickets). In the FY2023 Research and Development Support Project for Growth-type Small and Medium Enterprises (Go-tech Project), we will collaborate with Ryukoku University to develop a platform to realize the social implementation of environmental DNA research with the aim of promoting the fishing industry and preserving the ecosystem. It was adopted. Aiming to commercialize the "Smart Environmental DNA Survey System" by 2025, we are working to create a system that allows anyone to easily and cheaply participate in surveys and share analysis results.
