Asia Dive News : Japanese students saving 'Nemo'

Tokyo - Finding Nemo is easier said than done in Japan after the clown fish became popular with the release of the hit film and was over-fished, but university students are saving Nemo by successfully farming the salt water fish, reported Kyodo news agency.

Okayama University of Science is breeding 3 000 clown fish monthly, but is expected to increase the number to 10 000.

Students of the vocational school noticed the rapidly declining number of clown fish while planting coral in the sea around Ishigaki Island, Okinawa prefecture, as part of their school programme.

The school decided to breed the fish to prevent it from being over-fished, a first for Japan on such a large scale.

Children continue to be the biggest buyers of "Nemo".

Source: iol