The article discusses aspects of aquaculture relating to the pleuronectiform fish in the cold sea basins around eastern Hokkaido, Japan. The article focuses specifically on the barfin flounder, Verasper moseri. This research paper suggests that this species of flounder has a higher expression of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) mRNA in the brain, as well as increased stimulation of food intake, when reared in fish tanks with a white background compared to when reared in tanks with a black background.