Fishpass

What Fishpass does

Fishpass Co., Ltd. (株式会社フィッシュパス), founded October 2016 in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, operates a two-pillar platform-plus-services model anchored on the FISHPASS mobile application. The first pillar is a digital fishing ticket (遊漁券) platform that enables 24/7 online purchase of river and lake angling permits, with GPS-linked verification allowing fishery cooperative monitors to confirm ticket status via tablet. The platform is integrated with 411 fishing cooperatives nationwide from Hokkaido to Kagoshima and serves 360,000+ annual users, generating transaction-fee revenue and supporting related services such as tournament/event management and an insurance-linked ticket product developed with Sompo Japan.

The second pillar is a commercial environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis service built on two analytical modalities — metabarcoding for broad species detection and qPCR for high-precision species-specific detection — that can identify not only fish but also mammals (e.g., bears, wild boars) and birds from water samples. This capability is monetized through fee-based biodiversity assessments for local governments (e.g., Fukuoka City wildlife damage prevention, Nobeoka City TASUKI Project), enterprise clients (e.g., Japan Coke Industry blue carbon, Snow Peak managed fishing area), and academic partners (Ryukoku University, Fukui Prefectural University, Fukui University). Complementary infrastructure includes an LPWA-based safety/monitoring terminal business, drone-based ecosystem surveys, and the FISHPASS MAGAZINE content property.

Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) transaction fees on digital fishing ticket sales, (2) professional-services fees for eDNA analysis, (3) subscription/recurring platform fees for wildlife damage prevention programs sold to municipalities, and (4) fees for tournament and event management services. The go-to-market combines a direct-sales field motion for B2B cooperative and government accounts with self-serve consumer distribution via iOS and Android app stores. The company is privately held, holds 40.5 million yen in capital, and operates with approximately 18–19 employees, with three granted Japanese patents and a registered "Biodiversity DX" trademark.

Name

Fishpass

Legal name

株式会社フィッシュパス

Website

https://fishpass.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fishpass (株式会社フィッシュパス) digitizes river angling permits via the FISHPASS app for 411 fishing cooperatives and 360,000+ anglers in Japan, while providing environmental DNA analysis services for biodiversity monitoring, wildlife damage prevention, and ESG disclosure to municipalities and enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fishing Permit Platform

NAICS

Fishing (11411)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquatic Ecology & Fisheries Assessments (EUAHAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fishing Charters & Angling Experiences (Deep Sea, Sportfishing, Fly Fishing) (THAJAJAC)

Keywords

• Fishing license platform
• Environmental DNA analysis
• Biodiversity monitoring services
• Fishery cooperative management
• Wildlife damage prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Sakai

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Digital Fishing Ticket Sales Commission: Platform fees or transaction fees from fishing cooperatives for online sales of fishing tickets. Angler purchases fishing license digitally 24/7 via smartphone app.
2. Environmental DNA Analysis Services: Fee-based environmental DNA analysis services for enterprises, local governments, and research institutions for biodiversity monitoring, wildlife damage prevention, and ESG reporting.
3. Event and Tournament Management Services: ICT-based support for fishing tournaments including online registration, payment management, and result announcement.
4. Wildlife Damage Prevention Platform: Platform services for local governments and municipalities for wildlife monitoring and damage prevention using environmental DNA technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fishpass operates the FISHPASS mobile application for 24/7 online sales and GPS-verified monitoring of freshwater fishing tickets across 411 Japanese fishing cooperatives, and provides environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis services for biodiversity monitoring, wildlife damage prevention, and ESG/TNFD reporting. The company's dual platform combines consumer-facing ticket purchasing with B2B scientific analysis services using metabarcoding and qPCR techniques on water samples to identify fish, mammals, birds, and other organisms.

Product overview

Fishpass operates a platform-plus-services model centered on the FISHPASS digital fishing license app, complemented by specialized vertical services. The core FISHPASS app enables online fishing ticket sales with GPS monitoring for 411 fishery cooperatives, while the FISHPASS MAGAZINE web media platform provides content for anglers. The environmental business line includes environmental DNA analysis services for biodiversity monitoring, an ecosystem monitoring system using drone technology, and next-generation LPWA wireless communication infrastructure. Supporting services include outdoor tournament management and event coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FISHPASS MAGAZINE: Webメディア事業として釣りの楽しみ方を発信するメディアサービス

Products and services

• FISHPASS Digital Fishing Ticket App Mobile application enabling 24/7 online purchase of fishing tickets for river angling, with GPS-linked verification allowing fishing cooperative monitors to verify ticket status remotely via tablet. Annual user base exceeds 360,000 across 411 fishery cooperatives nationwide.
• Environmental DNA Analysis Service Biodiversity monitoring service analyzing environmental DNA from water samples to identify aquatic and terrestrial species including fish, crustaceans, birds, mammals, and aquatic insects. Combines comprehensive metabarcoding and targeted qPCR analysis with proprietary DX reporting for species distribution mapping.
• Ecosystem Monitoring System Integrated monitoring solution combining ecosystem observation with drone technology for visual data capture. Provides data visualization for fisheries resource protection and environmental improvement, supporting sustainable fishery cooperative operations across Japan's fishing grounds.
• LPWA Wireless Communication Service Safety and security service utilizing LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) terminals for fishing cooperative surveillance operations and recreational users on lakes and seas. Provides wide-area communication coverage for distress prevention and efficient resource protection.
• Outdoor/Tournament Event Services Event management service for fishing tournaments, beginner fishing classes, and survey events. Leverages ICT technology to provide end-to-end support including online registration, payment processing, and results announcement, reducing operational burden for organizers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 360,000+ annual users utilizing digital fishing tickets
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, partner and minor.

• Snow Peak Co., Ltd. (スノーピーク)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Snow Peak's first managed fishing area 'Nakanokawa Designated Fishing Area' in Kochi Prefecture uses Fishpass app for online reservation and digital fishing ticket issuance. Mutual promotion includes Snow Peak membership point benefits for ticket purchasers.
• Japan Coke Industry Co., Ltd. (日本コークス工業)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Joint creation initiative for blue carbon assessment methodology using environmental DNA analysis. Japan Coke Industry provides blue carbon target sites while Fishpass provides environmental DNA analysis technology.
• LiveNescence Co., Ltd. (株式会社リバネス)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Organizer of TASUKI Project for biodiversity assessment with junior high and high school students. Fishpass serves as technology partner providing environmental DNA analysis for student research activities in river and forest biodiversity evaluation.
• Fukui University Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Headquarters (福井大学産学官連携本部)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2023Joint research with Fukui University Graduate School of Information Science and Media Engineering on integrating AI technology into digital fishing ticket services.
• Ryukoku University (龍谷大学)coreTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partnership for environmental DNA research and biodiversity science. Joint research on smart environmental monitoring with the university's Biodiversity Science Research Center.
• Fukui Prefectural University (福井県立大学)coreTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partnership for environmental DNA analysis center and regional collaboration. Fishpass collaborates with the university's Regional Collaboration Center for water ecosystem analysis.
• Fukuoka City (福岡市)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFukuoka City Wildlife Damage Prevention DX Demonstration Project. Fishpass conducts environmental DNA analysis of river and waterway water to assess wild boar distribution and behavior routes in Sugano Ward mountain areas.
• Shimano (シマノ)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partnership with Shimano, a leading fishing equipment manufacturer, for mutual business development and market expansion.
• Focus Systems Corporation (株式会社フォーカスシステムズ)partnerTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner in TASUKI Project combining IT with environmental DNA and sound analysis technologies for biodiversity assessment.
• AuthJapan (AJ)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partnership for mutual business development in the fishing and outdoor recreation market.
• Mitsubishi Research Institute (三菱総合研究所)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partnership for research and consulting on regional revitalization and environmental conservation using digital technologies.
• Hokuriku Electric Power (北陸電力)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partnership for regional development leveraging energy infrastructure and Fishpass's regional networks.
• Sony Network Communications (索尼)partnerTechnology or IntegrationBusiness partnership for technology collaboration in the fishing and outdoor recreation sector.
• Sompo Japan Insurance (損保ジャパン)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partnership related to Japan's first insurance-linked digital fishing ticket product offered through the Fishpass app.
• Seibu・Sogo (西武・そごう)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partnership for regional retail and commercial expansion opportunities.
• Pasona Group (パソナ)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partnership for human resources and regional revitalization initiatives.
• Expo 2025 Osaka (万博)partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership related to Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai for promoting sustainable society and biodiversity initiatives.
• Hirable Inc. (ハイラブル)partnerTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner in TASUKI Project providing sound environment analysis technology (KoeTurri) for forest biodiversity assessment using bio-acoustic monitoring.
• Regional Environment Planning (株式会社地域環境計画)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Fukuoka City Wildlife Damage Prevention DX project for regional environmental planning services.
• Asahi Yuki Co., Ltd. (旭有機材)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TASUKI Project serving as hub for industry-government-academia collaboration connecting schools, local governments, and universities in Nobeoka region.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• NatureMetrics: UK-based environmental DNA analytics company offering biodiversity monitoring services to enterprises, governments, and researchers. Closest international analog to Fishpass's eDNA analysis business line, serving overlapping customer types (corporates doing ESG reporting, public agencies doing conservation monitoring) with comparable metabarcoding/qPCR technology.
• eDNAtec: Canadian environmental DNA solutions provider offering species detection and biodiversity monitoring for industry, government, and research clients. Comparable to Fishpass in providing eDNA-based fisheries, wildlife, and ecosystem assessment services.
• Jonah Ventures: US-based eDNA service provider specializing in biodiversity, fisheries, and aquatic ecosystem monitoring for government, academic, and enterprise clients. Directly comparable to Fishpass's environmental DNA analysis service line, including fisheries-focused sampling and species detection workflows.
• Wilderlab: New Zealand eDNA laboratory offering biodiversity and biosecurity monitoring services using DNA-based detection of aquatic species. Closely mirrors Fishpass's freshwater eDNA monitoring value proposition and customer segments (conservation agencies, regional councils, and enterprises needing biodiversity data).
• Spygen: French pioneer of environmental DNA analysis for biodiversity assessment, providing lab services and proprietary eDNA protocols. Highly comparable to Fishpass on the technical eDNA side, including species detection, metabarcoding, and qPCR offerings for biodiversity and wildlife monitoring clients.

Broad incumbents

• Snow Peak: Leading Japanese outdoor recreation brand and a strategic Fishpass partner; launched its first managed fishing area (Nakanokawa) using Fishpass digital ticketing. Comparable as an adjacent player in the managed angling experience market and a potential channel for scaling Fishpass's fishing platform into premium outdoor experiences.

Others

• Shimano: Global leader in fishing tackle and cycling components with a stated business partnership with Fishpass for mutual market development. Comparable as an ecosystem participant — the dominant fishing-gear brand in Japan whose customer base overlaps Fishpass's 360,000+ angler users.
• Sompo Japan Insurance: Major Japanese insurer partnered with Fishpass on Japan's first insurance-linked digital fishing ticket product. Comparable as an embedded insurance / risk-services partner that complements Fishpass's ticketing platform and signals the company's positioning at the intersection of recreation, insurance, and digital infrastructure.
• Mitsubishi Research Institute: Japanese research and consulting firm partnered with Fishpass for regional revitalization and environmental conservation research. Comparable as a strategic ecosystem participant — channeling policy and consulting opportunities into Fishpass while validating the eDNA-driven regional development thesis.

Emerging players

• iNaturalist: Citizen-science biodiversity observation platform with global species occurrence data. Comparable to Fishpass as a biodiversity data layer (though citizen-science rather than lab-grade eDNA), and increasingly used by ESG/TNFD reporters seeking baseline species distribution data.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/trout_inthemilk

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fishpass