Database, samples, and studies on biodiversity in Fisheries Research Agency

The current status of databases, samples and studies related to biodiversity in the Fisheries Research Agency is shown. The Fisheries Research Agency has conducted many researches on fish resources, marine plankters, and environmental factors in fisheries grounds around Japan. The data sets and samples collected in these researches are often expected to be disclosed. The data sets collected in the researches funded by the Fisheries Agency are controlled under the Fisheries Agency. Whether the data set collected in the researches by the fund of the Fisheries Research Agency or other research funds is disclosed depends on individual researcher's or research group's decision. As a result, much of the data sets have not been disclosed. To solve the problem, it is necessary to set the period when researchers who took data can use the data by priority, to establish the data policy that clarifies belonging, management method, and use of the data, and to construct the evaluation systems for making and maintenance of the database. On the other hand, the bio-samples collected in these researches are now being put in order, and rules for the lending service of the samples are under construction. As a biodiversity research, the Fisheries Research Agency now works on the development of biodiversity indices to evaluate the fisheries grounds, and of techniques for identifying various marine organisms.