Seeking an answer to the question, "If the fish disappear, we all lose" – Report from the 3rd Fisheries Future Summit

From March 27th to 28th, 2026, the 3rd Fisheries Future Summit was held in Nanao City and Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, an area still recovering from the earthquake and tsunami. Approximately 200 fisheries stakeholders from around 30 prefectures across Japan gathered to discuss the current state and future of Japan's fisheries industry from multiple perspectives.

At the opening ceremony, the host city of Nanao City茶谷義隆The mayor, while touching upon the damage to the port and the stagnation of the tourism industry caused by the earthquake, emphasized that "fish are an indispensable resource for this region surrounded by the sea, and how we envision the future of the fisheries industry will be key to regional revitalization." As the scenic Wakura Onsen continues its efforts toward a full recovery, he stressed the importance of the sustainable use of marine resources in order to welcome many visitors again.

The Fisheries Future Summit marks the beginning of implementation.

This summit is not merely a forum for discussion, but a practical initiative aimed at "implementing ideas." The chairperson of the Fisheries Future Summit Executive Committee and President and CEO of Fisherman Japan Marketing Co., Ltd.Yuki TsudaHe stated that "these two days are not the end, but the beginning," and urged participants to engage in constructive discussions and create concrete actions.

First, in his keynote speech, Associate Professor Takahiro Matsui of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology summarized the current state of Japan's fisheries industry based on data, aligning the participants' perspectives.

　This diagram (provided by Takahiro Matsui) shows that only 2% of marine areas have fishery resources in good condition.

According to the report, Japan's fisheries production has fallen to one-third of its peak. While marine fisheries globally have largely plateaued, and the supply of seafood is increasing due to the expansion of aquaculture, Japan is in a situation where it is being called the "lone loser." The factors contributing to this include:In the waters around Japan, only 2% of fishery resource stocks are in a "high" resource level state.Changes in the marine environment and the decline and aging of the fishermen are having a complex impact. On the other hand,Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishingIt has also been pointed out that seafood originating from this source may account for 3-4% of domestic distribution, highlighting institutional and distributional challenges.

How to increase the fish population

In response to these challenges, the focus of the discussion was presented as a simple yet essential question: "How do we increase the fish population?" Mr. Tsuda rephrased an advertising slogan from a certain sports manufacturer for the fisheries industry, saying, "If the fish disappear, everyone loses. Conversely, if the fish population increases, many problems will be solved." He emphasized the need to return to resource recovery itself, rather than making resource management the goal.

Contents of the special discussion on Day 1, "Theme: Everyone's Happy When Fish Populations Increase - Challenges and Prospects for Resource Recovery." (Graphic recording by Yukiko Yoshino, who participated from Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture)

The reports from the field were also insightful. Eiji Ogawa, who is in charge of squid fishing in Noto, pointed out that "the decrease in the number of fishing vessels and the increase in foreign vessels are raising risks in terms of both resources and national security." There was a shared understanding that fishing also plays a national defense role, including the aspect of monitoring operations within the EEZ.

On the other hand, encouraging developments were also reported from various regions. In a panel discussion themed "New Fishing Villages," examples were presented of movements in Hokkaido and Mie prefectures that are accepting migrants and students, and redefining the value of fishing villages by linking them with education and tourism. Participants expressed the opinion that "fishing villages should not be based solely on fishing, but should be redesigned to include the value of culture, education, and community," emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives that are not limited to the fisheries industry.

Discussion on the theme of "New Fishing Villages." (From right: Hirokazu Hoshi (Vice Representative of Hoshi Fisheries Department), Koichi Ogasawara (Representative of INAKABLUE), Jun Hashimoto (Tomoe Suisan)) (Photo: Nobuyuki Aoki)

Furthermore, initiatives for technological development and human resource development through industry-academia-government collaboration were also shared. For example, in Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, in response to the mass death of farmed fish due to high seawater temperatures, they are developing a method of raising fish using sake lees."Drunken Mackerel"The presentation promoted complete aquaculture* and introduced initiatives to pass on the importance of the ocean to future generations through school lunches and other means.

*This refers to an aquaculture method that does not rely on natural resources at all, where eggs are collected from artificially hatched parent fish, and those eggs are then artificially hatched again to continue the next generation.

Policy recommendations are also accelerating. In February 2025, as a project stemming from the summit, a proposal was made to the Liberal Democratic Party's Fisheries Research Council to review the structure of the fisheries budget, which resulted in an increase in the resource management budget. In September 2025, then-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi and Director-General of the Fisheries Agency Hitoshi Fujita also made recommendations regarding the importance of dialogue between scientists and fishermen, and the need for highly transparent resource management.

What constitutes "sustainable"?

On the second day, we reviewed the topics discussed on the first day and the project-based presentations using graphic recording (illustrations summarized on large sheets of paper; see photo), and then split into project-based groups for further discussion. A wide range of themes were shared, including policy recommendations to the government, promotion and awareness of sustainable seafood, and resource management games.

On the first day, the project presented its results, including a collection of resource management case studies.A collection of case studies summarizing successful resource management practices in various regions.Was announced.(Graphic Recording:Yukiko Yoshino, who participated from Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture (Photo by Nobuyuki Aoki)

The project I participated in was the "Sustainable Seafood Promotion and Awareness Project."
Participants from diverse backgrounds, including aquaculture farmers, university students, and human resources professionals, gathered to discuss "how to promote sustainable seafood."

The first question we discussed was, "What exactly is sustainable seafood?" As someone who thinks about promoting sustainable seafood on a daily basis, I've noticed that people sometimes have different definitions. So, before starting the discussion, I asked the members, including the fishermen, "What kind of seafood do you consider sustainable?" and I received a variety of opinions.For example, even if seafood is produced with environmental considerations in mind, can fish imported to Japan from far-off Africa truly be considered sustainable from a food mileage perspective? Or, as an aquaculture farmer, while alternative feeds are becoming more widespread, some argued that a sustainable system would be to reuse fish scraps and heads that are difficult to sell at high prices domestically and recycle them as feed. These were very fresh discussions from the perspective of those who farm fish domestically, and the questions posed from these diverse viewpoints made me think again.
Furthermore, while consumer awareness is undoubtedly crucial for promoting sustainable seafood, I've noticed that raising consumer awareness is proving to be more challenging than in Europe and the US, especially given the current high prices. That's why we discussed the importance of supporting the entire supply chain, from intermediaries, wholesalers, and retailers who connect with fishermen, to the point where seafood reaches consumers.

I personally experienced the importance of resource management.

Next to participate was the representative director of the Sustainable Seafood Association.Makoto SuzukiA "resource management game" developed by [company name].

I heard that it was a fun way to learn about complex terms and mechanisms related to resource management, so I decided to try it out. Using coins as fish, we took turns catching fish from the ocean where there were many fish and putting them into our baskets (boats). The system is designed so that the number of fish increases each year by the same number as the fish that remain in the ocean. We repeated the process of "catching" and "reducing" for five years, fishing in a way that maximized the total catch over the five years. The person with the largest total catch in their team wins.

We enjoyed the game while competing within our groups and considering the balance of resources. (Photo: Nobuyuki Aoki)

I won't reveal the actual game details here because I want everyone to experience it for themselves, but in the game, you not only get to fish as a fisherman, but you also see other participants (fishermen from other regions) catching a lot of fish, which naturally leads to comments like, "Let's catch it ourselves before the other regions do," giving a glimpse into primal human behavior.

On the other hand, if we don't increase the fish population, the amount we can catch in five years will decrease. However, we need to catch a certain amount to make a living. So, what is an appropriate catch amount? This was a time to ponder such questions while experiencing the activity. Furthermore, we encountered the key resource management keyword, which has a high barrier to understanding:MSY""TAC""IQ (Individual Quota)By learning about concepts like "reproduction relationships" in the context of the game's flow, I was able to gain a deeper and more tangible understanding.

Learn about the fishing industry in Noto.

On the third day, I participated in a tour that visited fishermen throughout the Noto Peninsula. We traveled around various locations from Wajima to Nanao, and I was able to see firsthand the current state of fishing in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Ishikawa Prefecture is under the jurisdiction of the Ishikawa Prefectural Fisheries Cooperative, which has a branch in Nanao. Originally, bottom trawling for sea cucumbers accounted for a large portion of Nanao's total catch, at 79%.

At the end of 2023, two months before the earthquake, Mr. Takeuchi, Vice Chairman of the JF National Federation of Fishery Youth Associations, who ran a fishing business in Nanao Bay, felt a strong sense of crisis regarding the decline of sea cucumber resources. For the fishermen of the Nanao branch, sea cucumber fishing was a vital livelihood, and the daunting reality was that if sea cucumbers could no longer be caught, the fishing industry would become unsustainable.

In this situation, driven by the belief that "if someone doesn't take action, the local fishing industry itself will collapse," Takeuchi connected with Umezu, who is developing oyster farming.

At the time, the oyster farming system developed by Mr. Umezu, the first of its kind in Japan, was still in the testing phase, undergoing verification before practical application. However, Mr. Takeuchi expressed a strong desire to "improve the marine environment and restore the sea to a state where sea cucumbers can thrive. To that end, I want to cultivate oyster farming as a new type of fishery," and in response to his aspirations, the system was decided to be introduced to Nanao Bay.

A scene explaining the process of cultivating oysters by placing them in black cages floating in the sea.

However, shortly thereafter, on January 1, 2024, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake struck. The earthquake caused extensive damage to Nanao Bay, and the number of fisheries cooperative staff members decreased significantly. Furthermore, the topography changed due to land uplift, and not only sea cucumbers but also fish populations declined in Nanao Bay. The seabed became more undulating, creating an environment where sludge easily accumulated. This serious situation has not yet recovered.

The road appears to have collapsed partway through. I encountered this many times while traveling by bus on the Noto Peninsula.

Amidst the ongoing difficulties in continuing fishing due to damage to fishing ports and homes, this oyster farming system miraculously survived. If they had continued to rely solely on sea cucumber fishing before the earthquake, finding a new fishing method to replace the sea cucumbers that had completely disappeared after the disaster would have been an extremely difficult task. Mr. Takeuchi's actions, aimed at "not relying solely on traditional fishing methods, but continuously changing to revitalize local fishing," opened up the future for Nanao's fishing industry.

How the people of Noto approached fishing after the earthquake

The earthquake has made traditional fishing difficult, and the local population is declining. Despite these serious circumstances, or perhaps precisely because of these harsh realities, the Fisheries Future Summit showcased people who continue to explore new possibilities for fishing. Rather than clinging to conventional methods, their challenge to re-examine the marine environment itself and cultivate an industry that will lead to the future demonstrated the strong will and determination of the local fisheries community.

I got a close look at squid fishing boats at Ogi Fishing Port in Noto Town. There, I could feel the passionate feelings the people have for Noto Town.

Visiting Noto for the first time since the earthquake, I was shocked by the lingering effects of the disaster, but what left the strongest impression on me was the focus not merely on "recovery," but on "regeneration" beyond that. It's a commitment to not only recovering what was lost, but also to creating a more sustainable fishing industry that will benefit future generations. I felt that this challenge is not just a story about the Nanao Bay area, but also offers significant insights for fishing communities throughout Japan that are facing the changing ocean.

Thinking and acting from a "field perspective"

The annual grand get-together. With producers from all over the country showcasing their prized fish, conversations flow freely. (Photo: Nobuyuki Aoki)

The Fisheries Future Summit brought together people of all ages and backgrounds, primarily fishermen from across the country, creating a sense of unity and exhilaration throughout the venue. It was precisely because so many people there were passionate about the fisheries industry that the Fisheries Future Summit fostered many discussions that could only have taken place there.

Overall, this summit left a strong impression not merely as a sharing of a sense of crisis, but as a practical platform connecting "the field, science, policy, and the market." I feel that the significance of the intersection of diverse challenges and knowledge toward the common goal of "increasing fish populations" in Noto, a region that carries the backdrop of recovery from the earthquake, is immense.

For Japan's fisheries industry to get back on a sustainable growth trajectory, the key question is how we can expand these kinds of on-the-ground collaborations and actions and pass them on to the next generation.

The next event is scheduled for January 2027 in Aomori Prefecture. It will be an opportunity to experience firsthand the passionate efforts of fishermen who are continuing their unique initiatives to revitalize and ensure the sustainability of the fishing industry, while enduring the harsh cold of mid-winter.

Text by Yukino Tomizuka and Mariko Arikawa, Public Relations, Seafood Legacy