[Shimoda Aquarium] 5th "Discarded Fishing Net Collection and Recycling Project" Recycling Event to be Held at Aquarium on July 5, 2026 (Sun)

Shimoda Aquarium (Location: 3-22-31 Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, General Manager: Koichi Keino), an experiential aquarium, will hold a customer participation-based recycling event for discarded fishing nets on July 5, 2026 (Sun).

◇ This is the 5th time this event is being held!

Shimoda City is famous nationwide for its large catch of alfonsino, and is known as the town of alfonsino. Alfonsino fishing uses methods called pole-and-line fishing or longline fishing, and much of the fishing line (tegusu) used is disposable and has been disposed of as industrial waste. However, when considered as a recyclable resource, while metal removal is necessary, the fishing line is high-quality nylon and there is potential for collection, making it useful for resource circulation. Therefore, centered around RefineVerse Inc., which collects fishing nets and re-resources them into nylon resin using its proprietary technology, Morito Apparel Co., Ltd. and PADI AWARE (Japan) have cooperated to promote the "Discarded Fishing Net Collection and Recycling Project" since 2020. Shimoda Aquarium, as a local company, agrees with this activity and wishes to cooperate by leveraging the aquarium's characteristics (information dissemination power, visitor attraction facility), and is holding a joint event, marking the 5th occurrence. We hope that through the experience of removing metal parts from discarded fishing nets and collecting recyclable fishing line, participants will have an opportunity to think about marine life, their habitats, and a circular society. Participants will receive benefits usable within the aquarium based on the amount of fishing line processed.

Fishing line before processing

Metal parts such as swivels after processing

◇ Event Overview

[Date of Event] July 5, 2026 (Sun)

*Canceled in case of rain (will be announced on SNS etc. by July 3, 15:00)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shimoda_aquarium/?next=%2F

X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/aquariumshimoda

[Date and Time] July 5, 2026 (Sun) 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

[Location] Shimoda Aquarium, First Parking Lot, Special Venue

[Overview] A simple task of removing metal parts (swivels and hooks) from fishing nets with scissors; participation is possible empty-handed.

Depending on the amount of nylon processed, food for the clawed otter feeding experience, etc. will be presented.

[Cooperation] RefineVerse Inc., Morito Apparel Co., Ltd.

PADI Asia Pacific Japan Co., Ltd.

Event Venue

Scenes from the event

◇ About Shimoda Aquarium

Shimoda Aquarium, operated by Shimoda Aqua Service Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujita Kanko, opened in March 1967 as an experiential aquarium. It is one of the few aquariums in Japan that utilizes a natural inlet. In addition to dolphins, sea lions, seals, penguins, and otters, it breeds and exhibits creatures mainly living in the waters near the Izu Peninsula. It features extensive interaction programs where visitors can feed animals and swim with dolphins, with the biggest characteristic being the very close proximity between visitors and the animals.

Location: 415-0023

3-22-31 Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture

Access: (By train)

Regular bus / 7 minutes, Taxi / 5 minutes, Walk / 25 minutes from Izu-Kyuko Line Izu-Kyukyu Shimoda Station

(By car)

Approximately 40 km from Izu Chuo Expressway/Shuzenji Road, Tsukigase IC

Official HP: https://shimoda-aquarium.com

◇ About Fujita Kanko

Fujita Kanko Inc., a pioneer in Japan's tourism industry, opened "Hakone Kowakien" in 1948 and "Chinzanso" (now Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo) in 1952, and subsequently established the company in 1955. By fully utilizing all corporate assets such as human resources and cultural assets, we aim to "realize a rich and fulfilling society" by providing a place of relaxation and warm service to more customers, and by providing new value that accompanies various scenes of customers' lifecycles and styles (lives) through unique content and business development.

Official HP: https://www.fujita-kanko.co.jp/

Brand Movie Now Available!: https://www.fujita-kanko.co.jp/sub/fkmovie

◇ Contribution to Sustainability by Fujita Kanko Inc. Group

Since its founding, Fujita Kanko has been guided by its corporate philosophy: "We wish to contribute to the realization of a rich and fulfilling society by providing a healthy place of relaxation and warm service." The company has been advancing initiatives related to the environment and diverse values, recognizing them as essential and important for sustainable corporate growth. These initiatives are in line with sustainability, which aims to realize a sustainable society. Moving forward, we will strive to solve social issues and realize a sustainable society through our business activities.

Sustainability Initiatives: https://www.fujita-kanko.co.jp/sustainability/