Traceability and Human Rights: Some Insights and Ways Forward for Japan’s Seafood Supply Chains
IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing
6th Japan Sustainableseafood・Awards (JSSA) was selected as the champion in the collaboration category of the "Fisheries Future Summit" to consider the future of Japan's oceans from the field.Throughout the first and second forums, participants from diverse backgrounds engaged in frank discussions, which led to the launch of numerous projects, including policy proposals, collaboration with companies, education, and resource management initiatives.We have independently built an unprecedented nationwide forum for co-creation and created a system to drive fisheries reform from the field.
The 3rd Fisheries Future Summit is scheduled to be held in Noto in March 2026.TsudaTo Yuki-san,Part1We will continue to hear from you.
He spoke about his reasons for choosing Noto as the next host city, the local reaction, and his views on the fishing industry in Japan and around the world.
--The third Fisheries Future Summit will be held in Noto on March 27th and 28th, 2026. Why was Noto chosen as the venue?
I would like to hold the Fisheries Future Summit in a way that tours fisheries sites all over Japan. The first summit was held in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, my hometown, which has experienced recovery from the earthquake disaster, so I wanted to hold the second summit as far away from Miyagi Prefecture as possible. And because the first summit was held in Kesennuma, there was a lot of discussion about the issues of deep-sea fishing, which is Kesennuma's main industry, and IUU. On the other hand, there was not much discussion about the issues of fish farming, which is important when considering the future of Japan's fisheries, so I decided to hold the second summit in Kagoshima, where fish farming is thriving.
The first and second events were held on the Pacific coast, so we were thinking of holding the third event on the Sea of Japan coast, somewhere in the middle of the Japanese archipelago, when the Noto Peninsula earthquake occurred in 2024. Since the earthquake, I have been visiting the affected areas once every one to two months to see if I can help support the recovery of the fishing industry, but the recovery of the affected areas has not progressed as expected. I felt strongly that we should make this situation a personal issue for people involved in the fishing industry across the country.
Japan is a country where disasters occur frequently, and I feel that there are many regions like Noto that are struggling to recover from earthquakes. It would not be surprising if a "second or third Noto" were to appear at any time. Therefore, I feel that creating a model for revitalizing the fishing industry and the region in Noto will have a direct impact on the future of regional fishing in disaster-prone Japan. With this in mind, we decided to hold the third event in Noto, so that Noto can serve as a model case for advancing recovery.
--What are Noto's fishermen looking for right now? Also, how do you feel about the 3rd Fisheries Future Summit being held in Noto?
The current situation in Noto is complex, and it may be difficult to say in a few words what is needed now. For example, in Wajima City, the earthquake caused a large uplift in the coast, raising the quay by four meters, making it difficult to even land fish. Meanwhile, off the coast of Toyama City on the Toyama Bay side, a large-scale slope collapse occurred on the seabed, which is said to have caused a tsunami, and the changes in topography and disturbances in the ocean conditions vary from region to region.
In addition, there are areas where roads have been cut off, making logistics difficult, and it is not easy to come up with an answer as to what should be done. Just as when we were recovering from the Great East Japan Earthquake, we hope to invite people from outside the fisheries industry to visit the area, where they will develop ideas and collaboration, leading to the creation of new trends.
Fishermen in Noto have been very happy and welcomed the third Fisheries Future Summit being held in their hometown. We invited fishermen from Noto to the second summit held in Kagoshima, and they said they learned a lot from it. When I asked them if they would like to hold the third summit in Noto, they immediately agreed. Many have said that holding the summit will encourage the local community, and I too am looking forward to holding it in Noto.
--What themes do you envision for the 3rd Fisheries Future Summit to be held in Noto?
The specific program is still under consideration, but we hope that the Noto event will serve as an opportunity to discuss how to establish a self-sustaining fishing industry in a country like Japan, where natural disasters and a declining population are increasing.
In addition, for the first and second events, the organizers set themes and held panel discussions, but we have also received feedback from participants that they would like to present their own efforts. As a result, we are now considering providing a space where participants can take the stage and make presentations themselves, as well as creating a space where participants facing similar challenges can deepen their discussions with each other.
--The 3rd Fisheries Future Summit will likely focus on the future of Japan. What changes and possibilities do you expect to see in the fisheries industry in Japan and around the world?
I believe that the fishing industry is an issue directly linked to Japan's "food security." As the world's population continues to grow, countries that currently export food will naturally curb exports and diverte food to their own countries as their own populations grow. If this happens, it will pose a major risk to Japan, which has a low food self-sufficiency rate and relies on imports.
Furthermore, while this is not a desirable situation, and one that could lead to global division, it is important for a country to have the ability to secure its own food supply. In that respect, I believe Japan's oceans are a resource with enormous potential. By restoring Japan's fisheries resources to their former abundance, we will not only be able to stabilize domestic supply, but also fulfill our responsibility to provide surpluses to the world. This is why, at the Fisheries Future Summit, we want to share this perspective and formulate concrete actions that can be taken on the ground to revitalize and protect Japan's fisheries industry.
--How do you protect Japan's fishing industry? Is there anything you keep in mind when thinking about and acting with many stakeholders?
What we value is "dialogue and harmony." When we work to change the fishing industry, we are often misunderstood as "criticizing the old system" or "seeking conflict." However, what we seek is understanding and cooperation that transcends positions.
For this reason, at the Fisheries Future Summit, we are calling for people to "stop criticizing who is at fault and what is wrong." Right now, we just don't know each other's circumstances, but if we can understand each other, we will surely be able to see where we can cooperate.
As I mentioned earlier, I believe that the fisheries industry has great potential for addressing food issues in Japan and around the world. For this reason, I would like to see not only people from the Fisheries Agency, but also national policymakers and researchers participate in this dialogue. I would like to see future Fisheries Future Summits also be attended by people from a wider range of backgrounds, creating a forum where we can all work together to envision the future of Japan's fisheries industry.
Yuki Tsuda
Born in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture in 1981. Graduated from the Master's Program in Business Administration at the Graduate School of Management at Globis University. While running his family's seafood retail and wholesale business, he experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake. In order to solve issues such as the lack of successors in the local fishing industry, he founded the general incorporated association Fisherman Japan in 2014 with several young fishermen. In 2016, he became the representative director and president of Fisherman Japan Marketing Co., Ltd., the sales division of Fisherman Japan. The Fisheries Future Summit will be held from 2024, with the third summit scheduled to be held in Noto in March 2026.
Interviewed and written by: Shino Kawasaki
After planning and editing corporate advertisements at a design office, she became a freelance writer, copywriter, and food coordinator in 2016. She writes for a variety of media, including women's magazines published by major publishers, food and beverage magazines and websites, and medical information websites.
share
Key terms and concepts to understand seafood sustainability.
