More bluefin tuna have died of unknown causes at an aquarium in Tokyo, leaving only six left alive. Officials at Tokyo Sea Life Park in Edogawa Ward believe, however, that the remaining fish will not survive the month.
According to the aquarium, the deaths have taken place in the exhibition corner, “Voyagers of the Pacific: Tuna,” that includes three different types of fish including as bluefin tuna and bonito.
Last year on Nov 1, there were 159 fish, but in early January, the fish started dying. As of Monday, only six bluefin tuna and five other fish were alive, TV Asahi reported Tuesday.
The aquarium has been analyzing the water quality and the dead fish, but there have been no abnormalities. Besides the possibility of bacteria and viruses, the impact of vibrations from construction near the aquarium is also being considered.
The aquarium, in an effort to remove as much stress as possible for the fish, have begun turning off all lights in the facility at night time.
Tokyo Sea Life Park opened on 1989, and it has been particularly popular for offering visitors the chance to view the migratory patterns of tuna.
© Japan Today
17 Comments
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TumbleDry
"migratory patterns of tuna"
in a tank...
Well, that sucks being a tuna there.
onagagamo
To be fair, the people working at zoos and sealife centres in Japan seem pretty clueless about animal welfare.
SenseNotSoCommon
How authentic!
lucabrasi
You've conducted an in-depth survey, with careful comparisons with the staff in other countries, of course.
Otherwise, your comment could conceivably come across as a bit of baseless racist nonsense. I'm sure it's not....
ifd66
in an effort to remove as much stress as possible for the fish how about letting them go back to where they belong - the wild - and close down the whole establishment.
Stuart hayward
Tokyo Sea Life Park opened on 1989, and it has been particularly popular for offering visitors the chance to view the migratory patterns of tuna.
A chance to view the migratory patterns of tuna?? Who wrote this? How can ANYONE view the migratory patterns of tuna in captivity? Though it does appear you can witness the premature deaths of tuna.
David Varnes
Migratory patterns of Tokyo Sea Life tuna:
6AM- North side of tank
8AM- South side of tank
3 PM- North side of tank
5 PM- South side of tank.....
donkusai
Well, thumbs up to Tokyo Sea Life Park from me for making the exhibit as lifelike as possible. Drastic fall in the number of bluefin tuna... could this be a guerrilla campaign to educate the Japanese public on the plight of bluefin tuna in the wild? If only it were.
StormR
Let the damn things go and all the other captive animals the selfish people want to cage and corral for their pleasure, wild animals should be that in the wild.
Disgusting that in this day and age the primitive still want to cage things.
Stuart hayward
David, lol. But the definition of migration is:( seasonal movement of animals from one region to another. ) Though you did describe their newly confined region, and their season must be those specific times you mentioned.
FightingViking
You mean they kept lights on all night like in pet stores ??? I believe I read an article where it said "Pet shops" must turn off all lights at night - aquariums should do the same - without having to be told... Poor fish...
Cricky
So the aquarium is killing the fish, and they don't have a clue. Experts in fish care, got to thank the university that takes theire money and teaches them that mass deaths are ok!
Kaerimashita
159 to 11 is a pretty good conservation record....
Pukey2
I suppose the park really is trying to imitate the oceans! How ironic.
lucabrasi:
Have you actually been to zoos in Japan? The monkeys are mentally disturbed. Pacing up and down. No reaction when you look at them. I never go to zoos or dolphin shows in Japan. Never. It's like pet shops - you pay and you only encourage them.
souka
my first time to know that somehow u can understand the migratory pattern of tuna in a tank at tokyo sea life tuna. i think that the only place that offer that kind of service on earth, pretty rare.
MissingCylonModel
"So long and thanks for all the fish!"