G/SCM/Q2/JPN/77  
 
30 September 2020 
(20-6637) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  Original: English  
 
 
SUBSIDIES  
REPLIES TO QUESTION S1 POSED BY THE UNITED STATES REGARDING  
THE NEW  AND FULL NOTIFICATION OF JAPAN2 
The following communication, dated 28 September 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Japan . 
 
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Programs for Development and Adaption of New Technologies and Conservation of Fishing 
Grounds  
Question 1  
Please describe what new technologies are or provide a definition of "new technologies".  
Question 2  
Please describe in detail in greater detail the eligibility criteria for this program.  
Question 3  
Please explain exactly what type of incentives are being provided under this program.  
Question 4  
Do the eligibility criteria differ between the various incentives under the program?  
Reply : 
New technologies of this program aim to contribute to conservation of fishing grounds and do not 
contain such programs to increase fishing capacity.  
Programs notified in 2019 include:  
- Research and Development (R&D) by fishermen to invent new device to exclude or reduce catch 
of harmful marine species such as jellyfish ; 
- Survey conducted by fishermen for mitigation measures affected by red -tide and marine pla stic 
waste.  
The government gives financial support to the cost of implementing these programs to fishermen 
and their organizations who participate to the program.  
 
1 G/SCM/Q2/ JPN/76. 
2 G/SCM/N/3 43/JPN. G/SCM/Q2/JPN/77  
 
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  Support for Establishment of Environmentally and Economically Sustainable Fisheries  
Question 5 
The notification states that "The objective of the programme is to enable fishermen and 
other organizations to conduct sustainable fishing practices under government's fisheries 
plans and resource management measures". Please explain the steps Japan take s to 
ensure sustainable fishing practices are followed.  
Question 6  
Please provide further information on whether this program has an effect and/or 
objective of increasing Japan's overall fishing capacity.  
Question 7  
Please explain in greater detail what is  meant by "the promotion of structural reform of 
fisheries sectors". What are the "structural reform"?  
Question 8  
Please explain exactly what type of incentives are being provided under this program.  
Question 9  
Do the eligibility criteria differ between th e various incentives under the program?  
Reply : 
Japan has various domestic regulations and measures for ensuring sustainable fishing practices, 
including the Resource Management Guidelines established by the national and prefectural 
governments.  Fishermen a nd their organizations are required to develop and implement their own 
resource management plans such as time/area closure, restrictions on catches and fishing gear in 
line with the Guidelines, in order to be eligible to this program.  
Fishing permit and license systems are combined with this program in order not to increase the 
overall fishing capacity.  
As for the structural reform, the government gives financial support to the cost or lost revenue 
resulted from the  efforts such as scrapping of fishing ve ssels and cessation of fishing activities as a 
result of tightened resource management, and improving working and safety conditions of crews on 
board.  
Promotion for Regional Development Through Fisheries  
Question 10  
Please describe in greater detail the eligibility criteria for this program.  
Question 11  
Please explain exactly what type of incentives are being provided under this program.  
Question 12  
Do the eligibility criteria differ between the various incentives under the program?  G/SCM/Q2/JPN/77  
 
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  Question 13  
Please exp lain how the recruiting new fishermen might effect Japan's overall fishing 
capacity?  
Question 14  
Under this program please explain whether the local governments provide additional 
financial support to the fishing industry? If so, please provide further det ails. 
Reply : 
Financial support is provided to fishermen and their organizations that implement such on -site 
fisheries related activities as clean -up and maintenance of coastal marine ecosystem, national border 
surveillance, revitalization of fishing commun ities in remote islands, and recruitment and settlement 
of new fishermen.  
According to Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ), the number of fishers follows downward trends and 
totaled 153 thousand in 2017, which compares to 222 thousand in 2008 (average annual d ecline is 
about 7.7 thousand). Meanwhile, the annual number of new entrants into fisheries has remained at 
the same level at around 2 thousand.  
FAJ estimates that the number of fishers is expected to continue to decline in the next decades 
(103 thousand in  2028, 73 thousand in 2048).  
This program is totally funded by the national government.  
 
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