The history of Sakae oysters
Oyster farming is said to have begun in Sakae Bay, Ako City in 1974, followed by Aioi Bay, Aioi City in 1978, and the Murozu area of Tatsuno City in 1998.
These three areas are the main oyster farming areas in Hyogo Prefecture.
However, compared to Hiroshima and Okayama, it still has a short history and production volume is small (as of December 2020).
- Hiroshima Prefecture 95,634t 1st place, share 60.2%
- Okayama Prefecture 15,461t 2nd place Share 9.7%
(2016 statistics)
My grandfather and father, who practiced purse fishing and sawara hanatsugi fishing at the time, seemed to be searching for other possibilities as their catches decreased year by year.
It is said that the reason they started oyster farming was because one of their fellow fishermen was from Okayama Prefecture, where oyster farming was already thriving.
Once oyster farming began, the production and quality were remarkable, and production increased year by year until oysters were quickly shipped all over the country.
Oyster farming soon began in nearby waters as well.
Hyogo Prefecture's oyster production ranked fourth in the nation in 1997, and grew to third in 2011.
In Sakae Bay, the tides are relatively gentle and the main stream of the clear Chikusa River , a second-class water system, flows nearby, creating an ideal environment for the proliferation of phytoplankton . It is likely that the mineral-rich water currents and topography are what produce the quality of Sakae Oysters, not by chance but by necessity.
Whether they knew it or not, the discovery of oyster farming may have been the most pioneering development in the history of Sakae's fishing industry.
The fact that I am now involved in oyster farming is thanks to the fishermen of that time, including my grandfather and father, who explored the possibilities, accumulated research and hard work, and created the "Sakae Brand."
No matter what happens, the tradition of the Sakoshi brand must continue to be passed on.
