Exploring Project Finance Potential in Aquaculture Industry: Legal Aspects

Unleashing Financial Possibilities in Aquaculture

On September 29, 2025, JPI (Japan Planning Institute) will host a groundbreaking seminar titled "Exploring Project Finance Potential in the Aquaculture Industry: Legal Aspects." The event promises to delve into the financial structures and legal intricacies involved in funding aquaculture projects, featuring guest speaker Naoki Matsumoto, an attorney from Nishimura Asahi Law Office, who specializes in foreign law practices in New York.

The Need for Sustainable Aquaculture

In recent years, Japan's fishing industry has witnessed a decline in production, prompting a critical need to secure stable and sustainable seafood supplies through aquaculture. As natural resources become depleted, the importance of developing aquaculture sectors has never been more pronounced. However, while the government supports this industry, securing funding from external private financial institutions and investors remains challenging.

This seminar aims to address these challenges by exploring project finance—a financing model tailored for such ventures. Through a comprehensive examination of project finance fundamentals, participants will gain insights into how this approach can facilitate large-scale funding for aquaculture businesses.

Key Seminar Topics

The seminar will cover the following crucial topics:
1. Fundamentals of Project Finance
- Definition and Characteristics: Understanding what project finance entails, including non-recourse and limited-recourse structures, asset-backed principles, project risk distribution, and comparisons with other financing methods.
- Advantages: The unique benefits of project finance, particularly for aquaculture ventures.
- Typical Structure: A look at common configurations employed within the project finance framework.

2. Features of Aquaculture
- Overview: Introduction to the aquaculture industry's landscape and operational dynamics.
- Revenue Structure: Exploring the earnings model specific to aquaculture.
- Risk Factors: Identifying operational, market, raw material, force majeure, ESG, and food safety risks inherent in the industry.
- Regulatory Compliance: Necessary permits and regulations governing aquaculture.

3. Examining Project Finance for Aquaculture
- Necessity: Understanding why project finance is vital for aquaculture ventures.
- Key Considerations: Essential points to keep in mind when applying project finance to aquaculture.
- Collateral Structures: Setting up security rights related to aquaculture projects.
- Anticipated Structures: Exploring potential financing structures based on the aquaculture sector's specifics.

4. Q&A Session
- Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions with the experts presented.

5. Networking Opportunities
- An invaluable time for attendees to exchange business cards and build connections with both the lecturer and fellow participants, fostering potential collaborations to expand their ventures.

Registration and Attendance Options

Participants can choose to attend the seminar in person, via live streaming, or access archived content for two weeks, allowing flexibility in viewing at their convenience.

- Fee Structure:

- Individual attendance: ¥37,320 (including tax)
- Group discounts for additional participants from the same company: ¥32,320
- Special rate for local public entities: Up to 2 attendees for ¥11,000 (tax included).

For more details and registration, please visit the JPI Seminar Link.
After the seminar, participants are encouraged to reach out to the speaker for any follow-up questions, as well as to enhance networking capabilities for future business endeavors.

Conclusion

This seminar serves as a crucial platform for stakeholders in the aquaculture industry to deepen their understanding of project finance as a means to secure essential funding, thereby contributing to sustainable seafood production. We hope to see you there!