Imagine a haven for unwanted aquatic creatures. This was the Kawasaki City Osakana no Ie. It served as a temporary refuge for foreign fish. These fish were difficult to raise.
The Kawasaki City Osakana no Ie was established in May 2005. It remained open until March 31, 2019. It was located in the Tanbo Park in the Tama Ward of Kawasaki City Kanagawa Prefecture.
Let’s dive into its history. In April 1984 Kawasaki City Osakana no Ie opened as a rearing pond in Tanbo Park. The goal was to raise juvenile fish. These fish included sweetfish and carp. They lived in the Tama River. The grown fish were released into the river. The city established it. It was in response to a request from the Kawasaki River Fisheries Cooperative. The Fisheries Cooperative managed the facility.
Around 2000 an incident sparked a change. Yamazaki Mitsuhiro of the Fisheries Cooperative saw children releasing goldfish. They also released tropical fish into the rearing pond. He heard their criticism. To prevent this a net-like cage was created. This became the basis for the Osakana Post.
Yamazaki noted that tropical fish. Guppies were seen in the Tama River near Tanbo Park. This started around 1965. By 2010 over 200 foreign species had been identified in the Tama River. The aim of the Osakana Post was to prevent the release of unwanted foreign fish. This protected the Tama River.
The Kawasaki City Osakana no Ie had a special feature. The rearing pond had a water tank. People could put fish they could no longer care for in this tank. Annually about 10000 creatures were brought to the post. From its opening until March 2019 it took in over 100000 creatures. These represented about 200 species.
Individuals small schools senior homes and aquariums adopted the creatures. Before 2010 many owners struggled with upkeep costs. The Great East Japan Earthquake also impacted it. Tanks and ponds were damaged. People worried about tanks falling over. In the month after the earthquake about 6000 creatures were brought in. In April 2013 they stopped accepting turtles. There were too many.
Kawasaki City Osakana no Ie closed on March 31 2019. The rearing pond had deteriorated. The Fisheries Cooperative cited aging as a reason. They decided to end the rearing business. They applied for closure.
The city was asked to keep the Osakana Post open. But a solution was not reached. The Osakana Post in Tanbo Park closed. After the Kawasaki City Osakana no Ie closed the Osakana Post Association continued its work. It continued to take in foreign fish at its rearing and management office. It is located in Ikuta Kawasaki City.
The Kawasaki City Osakana no Ie played an important role. It protected the ecosystem. It prevented the release of foreign species into the Tama River.