Rare fish run upstream in Hokkaido river to lay eggs

Rare fish run upstream in Hokkaido river to lay eggs

SAPPORO, Japan - A pair of Japanese huchen known locally as "ito," Japan's biggest freshwater fish in the salmon family, runs upstream on April 28, 2014, in a river in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido to lay eggs. The rare species is often called the "phantasmal fish."

Hokkaido town submits ordinance to conserve endangered fish

Hokkaido town submits ordinance to conserve endangered fish

TOKYO, Japan - This file photo shows the endangered Japanese huchen, or ''Ito'' in Japanese. The town of Minamifurano, Hokkaido, submitted a nonbinding ordinance to the local assembly March 17 trying to designate conservation zones and asking anglers to release the fish after catching it. Hokkaido is believed the fish's only habitat in Japan.

Hokkaido town submits ordinance to conserve endangered fish

Hokkaido town submits ordinance to conserve endangered fish

TOKYO, Japan - This file photo shows the endangered Japanese huchen, or ''Ito'' in Japanese. The town of Minamifurano, Hokkaido, submitted a nonbinding ordinance to the local assembly March 17 trying to designate conservation zones and asking anglers to release the fish after catching it. Hokkaido is believed the fish's only habitat in Japan. (Kyodo)

Japanese huchen fish move upstream in Hokkaido river

Japanese huchen fish move upstream in Hokkaido river

A breeding pair of Japanese huchen, about 80 centimeters in length, move upstream for reproduction in a river in the northern part of Hokkaido on April 29, 2017, with the male (top) in the breeding color of red. A member of the salmon family, the Japanese huchen is Japan's largest freshwater fish and is listed as endangered by the Environment Ministry. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo