1. [March to August. Cultivation of conchospores] Free conchospores and carpospores are planted in oyster or scallop shells to begin cultivation. They grow from spring to summer and produce conchospores. In autumn, the conchospores mature and are released.
2. [September. Preparation of fishing grounds] There are two types of aquaculture: the pole type, which is mainly carried out in inland bays and coastal areas, and the floating type, which is carried out offshore. In the pole type, preparation is carried out such as setting up poles, and in the floating type, preparation of aquaculture facilities is carried out.
3. [September. Offshore seedlings] Offshore seedlings are harvested by setting up seaweed nets and shells with grown filaments at facilities on the sea. This method is becoming less common nowadays because it is easily affected by weather and sea conditions. Most seedlings in the Ariake Sea are harvested offshore. Once the attachment of conchospores is confirmed, the shells are removed and the seedlings are raised as is.
3. [September. Land-based seedlings] A tank is set up on land, and the shells with the filaments are placed in it, with a seaweed net wound around a water wheel. This is called land-based seedlings. The number of conchospores attached can be adjusted, allowing for planned seedlings. This is the current mainstream method of seedlings. After the conchospores attach, the seaweed net is stored in a refrigerator, and when the sea conditions are right, it is stretched out to sea.
4. [October: Seedling cultivation] Seedlings are cultivated by stretching nets with seeds over the fishing grounds. In order to cultivate healthy seedlings, the seaweed is dried out to prevent the adhesion of weeds, grow disease-free sprouts, and encourage secondary sprouts to multiply.
5. [November to March. Production period] After seedlings are raised, the nets are divided into nets for cultivation (autumn seedling nets) and nets for freezing and preserving for a second crop (frozen nets). They grow to a size that can be harvested in about a month, and from December onwards, the frozen nets are stretched out into the fishing grounds and production of frozen nets begins.
