Part 1] I never thought that scallops originated in Otaru, Hokkaido. The name is "Otate". Otaru City, Hokkaido

Scallop fishing was prosperous in Otaru as well as herring fishing in the early Showa period (1926-1989), but the natural scallop population in Otaru died out due to over-catching and changes in the environment. After much trial and error, in 1979, a scallop aquaculture experiment was started off the coast of Otaru-Shukuzu, and in 1982, scallop aquaculture was successfully commercialized. Scallop seeds are harvested in the spring of the previous year and grow to 3-4 cm in size over a period of about one year. The scallop fry are shipped every year from April to May, and in Hokkaido, the shipping season begins in spring when both temperatures and sea water temperatures are still low. Scallop fry from Shukitsu Port are so popular that the entire production is reserved and sent to other waters, such as the Sea of Okhotsk, to be raised through the fishery cooperative. The scallops you usually eat may be the originals from Otaru-Shukuzu.

The process of unloading the scallops, which is done using a crane mounted on a fishing boat, is quick and easy, thanks to the skillful hands of the fishermen. The scallop farming method used at the Otaru-Shukatsu farm is called "suika yosoku. The cages used in this method are called "round cages," which are circular in shape with about 20 tiers in a row. The height of the cage is about 3 meters. The cages are placed at 30 cm intervals on a 200 m long rope, and are adjusted so that they are not eaten by their natural enemy, the starfish, and so that they do not touch the seafloor at a depth of about 40 m. The cages are then placed on the bottom of the sea, where they can be easily removed. The cage is adjusted by checking the round floating ball attached to the rope.