Japan Fisheries Association
Senior Executive Director
Miwako Takase
He joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 1984 and has played a variety of roles in promoting Japan's fisheries industry for the past 40 years.In the first part, we pointed out that Japan has a tendency to stubbornly stick to the systems it has established, but also faces challenges, such as the time it takes to accept new initiatives and create new systems.
Among them, JapanBased on the idea that we must continue to lead the world as a developed fishing nation,CurrentlyHe continues to work both domestically and internationally as the Executive Director of the Japan Fisheries Association.Part 1Read more
Sustainable Seafood Summit 2025He will also be speaking atTakaseIn Part 2,I would like to talk about my work at the Japan Fisheries Association and the new challenges I have encountered.He will talk about what he thinks is necessary to make sustainable seafood mainstream.
--Please tell us about the Japan Fisheries Association. What kind of initiatives has it undertaken so far?
The Japan Fisheries Association was established in 15 (Meiji 1882). When the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was adopted in 1982 and countries began to establish exclusive economic zones (EEZs), the Japan Fisheries Association took the lead in efforts to maintain the operation of Japan's fishing industry. With catches limited by EEZs and developing countries increasing the number of fishing vessels, I believe the association has long struggled to determine how Japanese fishing vessels can continue to operate.
While bycatch countermeasures have been strengthened and certain fishing methods have been banned, Japanese fishermen have felt that they are being pushed into a corner in the international community due to the government's lack of diplomatic power. Regarding IUU fishing, I think that the movement to eliminate IUU fishing has strengthened as a result of a mix of victim mentality - that they are going to great lengths to comply with regulations, but fishermen in other countries are not - and the noble cause of resource management.
However, we have now overcome that period, and I feel that there is a growing understanding that resource management is something we do for ourselves. From now on, the challenge will be to understand the new theory of "resource assessment."
INTERVIEWER What kind of attitude is required to understand difficult issues such as resource assessment?
Resource assessments are difficult to understand because they involve unfamiliar symbols and formulas that we don't normally use. First of all, from our perspective, in order to explain them to everyone, we must fully understand them ourselves. Simply reading prepared materials and using difficult words won't resonate with the audience, so we need to make an effort to explain difficult things in an easy-to-understand way.
On the other hand, fishermen sometimes say, "You don't know the situation on the ground." However, if we are turned away like that, we won't be able to move forward. I think both sides need to be willing to compromise, rather than trying to evade the other's understanding or turn them away.
--Any other challenges you feel you face in your current job?
At the Japan Fisheries Association, we are increasingly interacting with distributors and processors, something that wasn't the case at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Among these, many large distributors don't even operate their own fishing operations, so there are differences in their thinking with fishermen, and we feel that we need to bridge that gap. For example, large corporations, as joint-stock companies, are sensitive to global trends, such as certification issues, but some fishermen wonder, "Do I still need to get certified when I don't even know if the fish I catch will be exported?"
It is important to make them understand that certification is not only necessary for export purposes, but also helps to promote the sustainability of their fishing operations. To achieve this, I think distributors should be included in the discussions.
In Japan in 2018Fisheries Law revisedand a stakeholder meeting (Resource Management Policy Review Committee) is now being held. This is not just for fishermen, but for all stakeholders to understand resource management. Therefore, I would like to see not only fishermen but also distributors actively participate and speak out.
Some people say that "resources are depleting because fishermen are catching too many fish," but the reason fishermen catch fish is because they can sell them and there are people who buy them. When I first joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and worked in the field of tuna fishing, people from environmental protection groups often told me that "as long as high-quality sashimi can be sold at a high price, the fish will be caught to the brim." If that's the case, then buyers also bear responsibility. Responsibility must be shared by all involved parties, from producers to consumers.
Last year, TSSS set a goal of making sustainable seafood mainstream by 2030. What do you think is needed to achieve this goal?
If the goal is simply to increase the production of sustainable seafood, it may be enough for fishermen and governments to make an effort. However, unless consumers are aware of sustainability, it cannot be said to have become "mainstream." The value that products based on sustainable resource management should be handled and that it is natural to purchase them must be shared throughout society. To achieve this, I believe it is necessary to provide information and education to fishermen, distributors, and consumers.
INTERVIEWER In order to mainstream sustainable seafood, we must overcome issues such as IUU fishing. How can we overcome these challenges?
First of all, consumers need to know that there is such a problem. If they don't know, they won't be interested. It may be necessary to raise a sense of crisis by saying, "Such terrible things are happening in the world right now," or "If we continue like this, we won't be able to eat fish in the future." I think our first job is to increase opportunities to share awareness of the problem and push information to people who aren't interested.
It is also important for distributors to emphasize the importance of sustainability and resource management. Distributors are in a position to speak on behalf of consumers to fishermen, so I think that if distributors speak out, it will also change the awareness of fishermen.
Miwako Takase
After graduating from the Faculty of Biological Production at Hiroshima University, she joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 1984. In 2017, she became Director of the Fisheries Resources Division of the Fisheries Agency's Fisheries Development Promotion Department, and in 2019, Director of the Research Guidance Division of the same department, before being appointed Deputy Director-General of the Resource Management Department in 2021. She has served as Japan's representative in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC), among others. In 2023, she retired from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and became Managing Director of the Japan Fisheries Association, a general incorporated association. She is the first female Managing Director and full-time officer of the Japan Fisheries Association.
Interviewed and written by: Shino Kawasaki
After working at a design firm planning and editing corporate advertisements, she became a freelance writer, copywriter, and food coordinator in 2016. In addition to appearing in women's magazines published by major publishers, she writes in a variety of fields, including food and beverage, medicine, and housing.
share
Key terms and concepts to understand seafood sustainability.
