Abstract
The cultivation yield of Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) in the Sanriku region, which stretches from Iwate Prefecture to Miyagi Prefecture, the central wakame production area in Japan, has been declining. We investigated wakame cultivation off the coast of Yuriage in southern Miyagi Prefecture, aiming to develop a new cultivation area that meets high market demand. In the first season, three regional strains were cultivated, observing growth characteristics that differed from those in the conventional cultivation areas in Miyagi Prefecture. During the second season, two strains were grown and reached harvest without damage to cultivation facilities by wave motion, 8.9 tonnes of raw material was harvested from March to May, and 1,935 kg of boiled and salted wakame was produced and sold. The thickness of the blades reached a level comparable to that of other major cultivation areas in the Sanriku region. In conclusion, the environmental conditions along the Yuriage coast are suitable for wakame cultivation on a practical scale. This development could contribute to the stability of the local fisheries and increase income for fishers off the Yuriage coast.
https://ror.org/05tqx4s13 
