By Kazuki Yoshida / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

13:44 JST, December 5, 2025

SENDAI — Akoya pearl oysters have been found off the coasts of Miyagi and Iwate prefectures since last year. While the northern limit of their habitat on the Pacific side was previously considered to be off the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, rising sea temperatures may be influencing the shift.

Miyagi Prefecture started surveying the population of pearl oysters in November and is actively pursuing pearl cultivation research with the aim of creating a new income source for fishermen.

Akoya oysters were found in the sea off Miyagi Prefecture for the first time in October last year. Local fishermen found them attached to farmed oysters off the coast of Ishinomaki. After the prefectural government requested information, about 200 specimens were brought to the prefecture’s Fisheries Technology Institute from Kesennuma and Minami-Sanriku, among other locations.

According to the prefectural government, Akoya oysters mainly feed on........

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