Unlocking the potential of Japan's fisheries: from production to consumption, and collaboration with science

Revised Fisheries LawIt has been five years since the law came into force. The Fisheries Agency has declared that it will restore fish catch production to the same level as 5 (2030 million tons) by 2010*444, but the current situation is one of decline. This is thought to be due to a combination of factors, including a shrinking market, a decrease in the number of people employed in the fishing industry, and changes in the marine environment.

*1 The Fisheries Law was revised in December 2018 and came into effect on December 12, 2020. Resource management was not taken into consideration in the Fisheries Law before the revision. Japan's fishing production volume peaked in 12 and has been declining unabated since then, falling to about one-third of its peak level as of 1. The law was revised in response to this trend.

At the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit 2024 (TSSS2024), we held a panel discussion titled "Where is Japan's fishing industry headed?", inviting five people active in various fields.

The year 5 is just five years away. What should the future hold for Japan's fishing industry? We asked the panelists to exchange views from various angles about the current situation, challenges, and future prospects, with a focus on resource management, the sustainability of fishing industries and fishing villages, and the marine environment. We introduce the essence of their views.

・Mr. Masaaki Edamoto, Chairman of the Japan Fisheries Association
・Masanobu Sakamoto, Chairman of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations
・Nobuyuki Yagi, Professor, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
・Usufuku Honten Co., Ltd. President and CEO Sotaro Usui
Mr. Naoya Kakizoe, Chairman of the General Incorporated Association MEL Association

Sectors work together to adapt to change
(Mr. Masaaki Edamoto, Chairman of the Japan Fisheries Association)

"Collaboration between sectors is important," says Edamoto (far left).

There are two major problems in achieving sustainable improvements in fisheries production.
The first is Japan's declining population. If demand declines, the survival of fishing grounds, traditional techniques, and diverse fish-eating culture will be in jeopardy. The number of people employed in the fishing industry will also decrease further. It is important to make fishing more attractive to young people while at the same time improving the efficiency of work. The development of technology can also be utilized in neighboring countries that are also experiencing population decline, and will become a strength for Japan. Meanwhile, the world's population is increasing at a rate of 3%. In the future, it will be important to consider reducing food waste and food security for people around the world.

The second is changes in the marine environment. The average water temperature around Japan has risen by about 2 degrees over the past 100 years (about twice the global average). On the other hand, agriculture, forestry and fisheries are the only industries that can both emit and absorb greenhouse gases. It is possible to increase greenhouse gas absorption by utilizing seaweed beds and to introduce capital from companies that emit greenhouse gases in the form of carbon credits.

In order to improve productivity amid uncertainty, cooperation between fishing grounds, equipment, production, processing, distribution, and consumption is essential. The Japan Fisheries Association has approximately 600 organizations involved in various sectors. We will continue to cooperate with these organizations and contribute to a sustainable fishing industry.

Utilizing the potential of Japan's fishing industry
(Masanobu Sakamoto, Chairman of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations)

Mr. Sakamoto shows the potential of Japan's fishing industry

In recent years, the biggest factor in reducing fish catches has been changes in the marine environment. 96.4% of members of the Japan Fisheries Cooperative Association (JF) responded that they have noticed changes in the marine environment and are concerned about the continuation of fishing. The decline in catches of salmon, pacific saury, and Japanese flying squid has been dramatic, and if this trend continues, it could lead to the collapse of the entire local community, including seafood processing, distribution, and retail. JF promotes "restorative fishing and aquaculture" that simultaneously restores resources and the environment, such as by conserving seaweed beds and tidal flats, and contributes to creating a "bountiful sea."

On the other hand, Japan is one of the three largest fishing grounds in the world, and a wide variety of marine products are landed using various fishing methods. Techniques such as "ikijime" (killing fish with live fish) and "nerve-killing" (killing fish with nerves) are unique to Japan. It is also known that many foreign tourists visit Japan in search of Japanese food.

The fishing industry can be the core of regional revitalization. By taking advantage of the potential of Japan's fishing industry and the "Hama Plan"*2 to increase the added value of marine products, it will also lead to increased income for fishermen. And I believe that the way forward for Japan's fishing industry in the future is to make people around the world want Japanese marine products more than ever before.

*2014 The "Hamano Vitalization Regeneration Plan" was launched in XNUMX.With the aim of promoting the fishing and fisheries industries, the Regional Fisheries Revitalization Committee, organized mainly by fishermen and municipalities, will draft a plan to increase fishing income by 10%.

Viewing fishing issues as social issues
(Nobuyuki Yagi, Professor, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo)

Mr. Yagi explains that "fishing issues are social issues"

Five years have passed since the revised Fisheries Law was enacted, but the pace of implementation seems slow.

One of the reasons is that this law requires an agreement with the parties involved. The background to this is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)'s Voluntary Guidelines for Small-Scale Fisheries, which emphasize participatory management by the parties involved. Academic research has also shown that inappropriate government intervention can destroy local institutional capital (Professor Elinor Ostrom).

*3 The "Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries for Food Security and Poverty Reduction" established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This is the first internationally agreed policy document, and aims to contribute to the small-scale fishing sector, which tends to be deeply rooted in local communities, traditions and values.

*4 There is an argument that management of commons, including fisheries resources, should be done by the state or the market, but Elinor Ostrom has used game theory to show that voluntary management is one effective method, and has also pointed out the dangers of making policy decisions based on overly abstract models, which she has called the tragedy of the commons.

Another factor is that fishing issues are intricately intertwined with social issues such as a declining birthrate, an aging population, and population concentration in cities. In coastal areas, traditional community resource management andIQ (Individual Quota)There is a struggle for resource management by

These dilemmas faced by producers need to be addressed, including by consumers. Governments and NGOs can support sustainable livelihoods through food tourism and social innovations. In parallel, scientific data provided by researchers can provide useful insights.

Making fishing an attractive industry and improving unfair trade practices
(Usufuku Honten Co., Ltd. President and CEO Sotaro Usui)

Usui emphasizes the need to eradicate the IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) market

Currently, we are working on three initiatives.
1. Transforming fishing into an attractive industry
2. Thorough resource management and obtaining eco-labels
3. Communicating the importance of food

For fishermen, the boat is also a living space. That's why we built a fishing boat that is comfortable to live in and equipped with internet and Wi-Fi, making it "a fishing boat that young people will want to try out."

In addition, all tuna are tagged with electronic tags and reported, and landing inspections are conducted under the supervision of the Fisheries Agency.MSC NewsIn 2022,MEL CertificationI got it.

At the same time, producers have been holding nutrition education classes at elementary schools since 2012. In the Republic of Indonesia, which has the world's largest tuna catch, elementary school students and high school students attending fisheries-related schools are invited to tour fishing boats.

In addition to our efforts, what is important for the revival of Japan's fishing industry isIUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated)We need to eradicate the market. It is Japan that is buying up seafood from IUU fishing. The problem lies in the distribution. We must reform unfair trade as soon as possible so that producers can continue their fishing industry. I think it would be effective to refer to the systems of growing countries such as Europe and the United States and to communicate the problems to the public and the world.

Food stability is a top priority for the country. We, the people, must think seriously about what we will eat and how we will eat it in the future. Looking around the world, the food industry is the core industry in every country. I believe that the revival of primary industries is essential to revitalizing Japan's regions in the future.

Evoke the commitment, ethics, sense of mission, sincerity and empathy of each sector
(Mr. Naoya Kakizoe, Chairman of the MEL Association)

Mr. Kakizoe (far right) talking about the evolution of MEL certification

MEL certification, which launched in 2016, was clearly a latecomer compared to certification labels such as MSC and ASC. Although it was difficult at first, the tide turned when the promotion of fisheries eco-labels was included in the 2017 Fisheries Basic Plan. In 2019, it was approved by the Global Seafood Sustainability Initiative (GSSI), and over the next four years, MEL has become a major international standard and has a strong presence. The operation of the MEL scheme and the value of Japan's diversity are beginning to spread around the world.

As of October 2024, there are more than 10 certified cases, which is more than 250% of Japan's total production. In addition, there are more than 12 companies and organizations that support and endorse MEL, and the circle of MEL is expanding. On the other hand, there is a lot of room for future growth, such as bottom trawl fishing, eating out, and prefectures that have not yet been certified.

Marine products are a unique food source, with half of them being caught from the wild. For this reason, I believe the following five strengths will be key to ensuring food security in Japan and ensuring its appeal for the future.
1. Politics and administration's commitment to the fishing industry
2. Passion and ethics of business operators
3. Sense of mission of those involved in the certification system
4. The sincerity and global presence of fisheries and marine researchers and research institutions
5. Resonance with citizens and consumers

Vision and prospects for Japan's fisheries industry in 2030

Finally, each speaker spoke briefly about "Vision and prospects for Japan's fishing industry in 2030."

As for the ideal image for 2030, Edamoto of the Japan Fisheries Association, which coordinates Japan's fishing industry from upstream to downstream, cited the establishment of a system that links not only producers and government, but also distributors, processors, and consumers. Furthermore, Yagi of the University of Tokyo Graduate School, who conducts broad social research on fishing industry issues, expressed hope for the participation of young people, including women, from the perspective of well-being.

With regard to production and distribution, Mr. Sakamoto of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, which brings together fishermen from all over the country, pointed out that the challenge is not to target specific fish species, but to consider how to distribute fish that have arrived in Japan. Mr. Kakisoe of the MEL Council stated that it is important for the fishing industry to make use of a wide range of diversity.

Mr. Usui, whose family has been involved in bluefin tuna fishing for generations, spoke passionately about his hope that the fishing industry will become the core of regional revitalization and that more people, including foreigners, will come to respect fishermen and the countryside.

The session brought together participants' abundant experience, diverse opinions, and thoughts about the fishing industry, and shared the importance of spreading sustainable fishing throughout society.

◾️You can view the session contents in the archive here.
Full version (90 mins) here

◾️Click here for other sessions on the sustainable seafood movement in Japan and Asia

[Trajectory] Movements in Japan and Asia: Tracing the course so far and charting the path to 2030 - Chapter 1

[Trajectory] Movements in Japan and Asia: Tracing the course so far and charting the path to 2030 - Chapter 2