A research group led by Associate Professor Toru Konee of the Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University found that the turbulence generated by the strong current of the Kuroshio supplied nutrients to the surface layer, and that phytoplankton was growing sufficiently.Although the Kuroshio has been considered to be a desert in the sea with low nutrients, sardines and mackerels grow in the Kuroshio and are called the "Kuroshio Paradox".The research group believes that the key to solving this mystery lies in the work of turbulence.
According to Kagoshima University, the research group continued systematic ocean observations and offshore culture experiments using Kagoshima University's training vessels and state-of-the-art observation equipment.As a result, it was found that the world's largest turbulence generated in the Traka area to the south of Kyushu supplies a large amount of nutrients to the surface layer, and the supply amount is quite large as the open ocean.
When the seawater collected from the Kuroshio Current was given the same nutrients as those supplied by turbulence and culture experiments were conducted, it was found that phytoplankton could grow.However, this growth was quickly consumed by tiny zooplankton.
The Kuroshio has been considered to be a desert in the sea because of the small amount of nutrients and phytoplankton observed, but it was found that plankton and the like do not remain because production and consumption are balanced.
The research group says that if the situation up to migratory fish can be confirmed, it can be demonstrated that the Kuroshio is actually a sea of fertility.
