Japan's government and businesses involved in eel farming are set to launch a trial of a traceability system designed to prevent the poaching of baby eels.

The media were given a preview in Tokyo on Monday ahead of the test run that starts on Tuesday.

Eels are a popular delicacy in Japan.

The Fisheries Agency says last season's baby eel catches across the country stood at five tons. The amount was around 30 percent less than the agency's estimate. It believes poaching is one of the reasons for the shortfall.

The new system will enable the industry to trace the distribution routes of baby eels traded in Japan.

Fishery workers, wholesalers and eel farmers will use QR codes to share data about who shipped the fish and when they were traded.

The trial will be conducted in the southwestern prefectures of Miyazaki and Kagoshima and the central prefecture of Aichi. The launch of a full-fledged system is planned for December next year.

Hoshina Masaki, an executive of an organization running the system, says he hopes it will be an easy way to ensure that baby eels are traded legitimately.

Japanese officials are stepping up measures to stop poaching. The maximum fine for individuals involved in baby eel poaching was hiked last year 300-fold to 30 million yen, or about 195,000 dollars.