ISARIBI NO.71

ISSN1346-2512

JapanFisheries
AssociationNO.71, DEC. 2011
Sankaido Bldg.,
9-13 Akasaka 1, Minato-ku,
Tokyo, Japan 107-0052
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Views and Opinions of Japan’s Fisheries Industry

ICFA Meeting

ICFA pledges support for restoration of disaster-hit
Japanese fisheries; urges governments to continue efforts
to manage fishing in sensitive areas
The International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) met on 5-7 October 2011 in Rome, Italy, to identify
issues of common interest and develop advocacy strategies to address these opportunities. ICFA members also met
informally with U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representatives. Toshiro Shirasu, president of the Japan
Fisheries Association, led the Japanese delegation.

Shirasu expressed his heartfelt gratitude for thekind assistance from many foreign countries inconnection with the disaster caused by the greatearthquake and tsunami that devastated eastern andnorthern Japan in March of this year.
Although it will take a long time to restore andrehabilitate the ravaged areas, he said, the Japanese
government is committed, as a top-priority policy goal,
to help the fisheries industry in this region rebuild assoon as possible because this region has an enormous
importance for Japanese fisheries, having one of
the most bountiful fishing grounds in the world andaccounting for nearly 20% of the overall seafood
supply in Japan.
During the meeting, each Member made presentationon the issues facing its fisheries to seek otherparticipants' understanding. What follows are topics
Japan presented as having a high priority.
1. Issues facing fisheries in Japan and measurestaken for themFisheries in Japan are now faced with the following
three major issues.
First, seafood consumption in Japan has been on adecline. In terms of per-capita consumption, meat hasexceeded fish. However, when compared with otheradvanced countries, the Japanese are still the largest
consumers of seafood.
Because of the persistent deflationary economy inJapan, consumption of seafood remains stagnant,with sales going on at a slow. The Japanese people,
especially younger generations, tend to eat less fish
now, compared with previous years.
The development of the fisheries industry in Japan
will be severely affected if this sluggish seafood

ICFA meeting
consumption continues.
The JFA is trying to check this trend by staging
campaigns and other means to popularize fish diet andexpand seafood consumption in Japan. But, to date, wehave not come to decisively effective measures.
Secondly, we face the need to construct new fishingvessels as the vessels currently being used have aged andbecome outdated, resulting in decreased productivity infishing operations. However, fishing companies are unable
to procure financing to replace their vessels as businessconditions are deteriorating. Furthermore, there are nogovernment subsidy programs for replacing vessels.
Thirdly, Japan's seafood exports have been stalled, partly
due to the accident of a nuclear power plant in Fukushima,caused by the great earthquake and tsunami in March thisyear. Even exports of the seafood, for which safety has
been confirmed, have decreased drastically due to rootlessnegative rumors.

ISARIBI: First published by the Japan Fisheries Association in October 1992.
JFA President: Toshiro Shirasu; Editor: Masashi Nishimura

ISARIBI NO.71

DEC. 2011

Countermeasures:As countermeasures for the above issues, Japan isconsidering the following activities.
(1) Regarding the expansion of fish consumption, theJFA has established within its office a new section,"Center for Promotion of Fish Diet," with a viewto discuss more effective ways to expand seafood
consumption.
(2) The JFA is committed to promoting sustainablefisheries taking into consideration the marine ecosystemand the environment by promoting the Marine EcoLabel Japan (MEL Japan) scheme.
(3) With respect to updating fishing vessels, the JFA isrequesting the government that policy-based assistance
be extended for the introduction of energy-savingtype fishing vessels and environment-friendly fishingmethods.
(4) Regarding seafood exports, the JFA is striving,
both on a governmental and private levels, to explain
to importing countries and importers about thesafety of Japan's seafood with the aim to gain better
understanding.
(5) Especially on the issue of HACCP, the JFA is making
efforts to achieve even more exhaustive sanitation
controls of seafood because Japan is lagging behindin the acquisition of HACCP required for exports to theEuropean Union.
2. Japan's experience of the Great East Japan
Earthquake/TsunamiJapan outlined the damage inflicted on fisheries by
the devastating disaster, and presented the measuresthat the government and the industry have been taking
to cope with this situation. Regarding shrinking seafood
consumption and declining exports, caused by thedisaster, the JFA explained the measures now being
taken as stated above, and sought advice from fisheriesorganizations in the world based on the recognition thatsuch a state could occur in any other place in the world.
In response to Japan's presentation, ICFA agreed
on adopting a resolution, stating that it will continue
assistance for the restoration of the disaster-hit fisheries
industry in Japan and contribute to the solution ofexport decline due to negative rumors by appealing thesafety of Japanese seafood. The text of the resolution
will be presented in the future issue of ISARIBI after it
is finalized.
In the exchange of views with FAO officials, Japan
explained the difficulty it is experiencing in connection
with the impact of rootless negative rumors on
Japanese seafood, and sought cooperation and advice
from the FAO. Arni M. Mathiesen, Assistant DirectorGeneral of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department,
pledged FAO's support, assuring it will cope with theassistance to Japan in cooperation with Japanese
officials concerned.
3. Marine eco-label
ICFA Members reported on the situation of marine
eco-label and actions they have so far taken in theircountries in this regard. Japan reported that eighttypes of fisheries have so far been certified under theMarine Eco-label Japan (MEL-Japan) scheme., with fiveothers to be certified shortly. (Note: final certification inOctober)
It also explained that, unlike in Western countries,
actions as attaching upbraiding banners directly at retailstores will produce little or no consumer sympathy under
the Japanese social environment. Therefore, efforts havebeen promoted in Japan with the emphasis to encourage
voluntary applications from fishermen who want to appeal
sustainability of their fishing. In Japan, it is not likely thatthe eco-labels come to widely accepted by the publicthrough boycott actions against retailers.
4. Bottom trawling
ICFA members agreed to work together to urge
national governments to continue efforts to manage
fishing in sensitive ocean areas and adopted thefollowing resolution. The resolution clarifies thecontribution of bottom trawling to global food supply.

DEEP SEA HIGH SEAS FISHING RESOLUTION

The International Coalition of Fisheries Associations(ICFA) has unanimously adopted the following
resolution regarding the contribution of bottom
trawling to global food supply.
WHEREAS ICFA
Recognizes that a stable food supply is the mosturgent global issue in the face of the explosive growthof the human population of the world;
Notes that the ocean occupies 70% of the surface ofthe earth with unutilized and undeveloped deep sea
resources in abundance;
Recognizes that properly managed fisheries are aneco-friendly industry;
Applauds the findings of a recent FAO-WHO workshopthat recommends increased consumption of seafood
because “there is convincing evidence” that seafood
consumption helps protect against heart disease andimprove neural development in infants and young
children;Notes that fisheries have a role in supplying naturalresources produced with minimum human interaction;
Recognizes that marine living resources, whenharvested under a proper management scheme, canbe a substantial, sustainable, healthy food source; andBelieves that any attempt to define deep sea fishing
beyond the EEZs of coastal states and outside
convention areas of regional fishery management
organizations as “IUU fishing” will hamper both the
20-year struggle to eradicate IUU fishing and efforts
to limit the adverse impacts of deep sea fishing.
ICFA MEMBERS THEREFORE RESOLVE to continue
their active engagement in:
1. The production of a stable and continuous supply ofseafood, particularly high quality seafood protein forpresent and future generations;2. Fishing operations that ensure protection of theocean environment, particularly marine ecosystems,
including by participating in resource management atinternational, regional and national levels; and3. The precautionary development of unutilized andundeveloped deep sea resources which can contributeto sustaining the human population.

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ISARIBI NO.71
ICFA MEMBERS FURTHER RESOLVE tocommunicate (in advance of the November 8, 9 and
11-16, 2011 debate of the UN General Assemblyfisheries resolution) to their respective governments:
1. The need for continued precautionary, notre a c t i o n a r y, m a n a g e m e n t m e a s u re s ( a n d i nparticular, area closures) with respect to deep seafisheries;
2. The need to ensure that the UN General Assembly
fisheries resolution remains a vehicle for broad
policy guidance; and3. That the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department ofthe Food and Agriculture Organization remains theUN specialized agency to which fisheries technicalmatters are referred.
5. Harassment of Japanese whale research
program by Sea Shepherd
As stated by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestryand Fisheries, Michihiko Kano, on October 4, theresearch whaling program by Japanese vessels in theAntarctic in last season was suspended by violent
harassment by radical animal-welfare group, Sea
Shepherd. At the ICFA meeting, Japan distributed
a paper that stated that it is committed to continue
research whaling in the Antarctic in the future basedon the right of sustainable utilization of marine
living resources recognized under the International
Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Japansought understanding of ICFA members on this issue.

Seafood Expo
Industry gets united at the seafood show for
support of recovery of fisheries in tsunamiridden areasT

he 13th Japan International Seafood & Technology
Expo was held at the Tokyo Big Sight on July
27-29, under the slogan to "Cheer Up Fisheries inJapan" in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquakeand Tsunami on March 11 this year.
T h e e x p o, o rg a n i ze d by t h e J a p a n F i s h e r i e s
Association, attracted 25,537 visitors during the three

MEL Japan booth

DEC. 2011
day session. A total of 350 companies and organizations
participated in 383 booths, including 14 foreign countries.
Namibia and Uruguay made their first participation.
The opening of the show was marked by silent prayers
for the victims of the Mega-Earthquake/Tsunami. In his
opening address, JFA President Toshiro Shirasu stated:"The theme of the exposition is the support of fisheries
in the disaster-hit area. Since the occurrence of theearthquake/tsunami and the accident at the Fukushima
Nuclear Power Plant, the demand for seafood in Japan
has been on a decline partly because of the consumers'
inclination toward thrifty life. If this situation continues
long, fisheries in Japan as a whole will weaken. It is thedetermination of the fisheries industry to get united in thesupport of the restoration of fisheries in Tohoku. I strongly
hope this expo will provide strong motivation for theachievement of this goal.""This expo is an opportunity of encounter between
excellent seafoods and competent buyers. Our aim is to
liven up seafood demand by promoting consumption.
Recently we were blessed with an encouraging news of
the Japanese women' s football team winning in the World
Cup series. I was told that, in each game, the players
wished to bring back smile to disaster-ravaged areas.
Like them, we should hold fast to our indomitable will forrestoration, not giving up our goal," Shirasu said.
On behalf of people in the disaster-stricken area,
Shigeru Sugawara, mayor of Kesennuma, expressed
appreciation for warm support extended from many places
both in Japan and overseas. He said that the seafood
processing plants in the city were entirely destroyed by
the earthquake and tsunami, with half of the Fish Market
being collapsed. But fishermen there showed strong
commitment for recovery, and succeeded in reopening
the Fish Market on June 23. Soon afterwards on June28, purse-seine fishing vessels from Shizuoka Prefecture
landed skipjack tunas at Kesennuma, followed by others.
Many fishermen in other parts of Japan showed theircommitment to come back to Kesennuma. We still facea difficult situation but we will do our best to deliver
fish from the Sanriku area to consumers all over Japan,
Sugawara said.
Despite the harsh plight, nine makers from the disasteraffected region exhibited their products at the show,with others participating through presentation of posters,
samples and pamphlets.
Among major features of the expo, the Sushi Industry
Association held presentation of traditional Japanesesushi cooking technique to respond to rising popularityof Japanese cuisine overseas. About 20 seminars were
held on such topics as assistance to disaster-ridden areas,
safety of seafood and land-based aquaculture.
Also, during the show period, the JFA organized, jointlywith the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, a symposium
under the theme of "Creation of new fisheries in Japan byovercoming the natural disaster," which included lecturesand panel discussions. A total of 160 people attended thesymposium.
Notable among foreign participants, Namibia sent ateam of the Fisheries and Marine Resources Ministry
officials--all of them women--headed by the Minister
herself.

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ISARIBI NO.71

Effects of DHA
Studies clarified DHA's effects for prevention ofAlzheimer'sMaruha Nichiro Holdings, Inc., the largest
fishing company in Japan, announced inTokyo on August 31 that it has confirmed
the effectiveness of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)in preventing Alzheimer's, as a result of the clinicalexperiments it conducted jointly wi th Shimane
University and other related institutions.
S h i m a n e p re fe c t u ra l g ove r n m e n t c o n d u c t e depidemiological research regarding the relations
between Alzheimer's and the diet under the research
project commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labourand Welfare from August 2004 to September 2008. Theresearch team obtained the result that aged people who
frequently eat fish have slower progress in retardationof cognitive functions. Based on these findings, theMedical Department of Shimane University, Shimane
Prefectural Junior College (Izumo Campus), Ninjukai
Kato Hospital and Maruha Nichiro jointly conducted anintervention experiment using fish sausage produced byMaruha Nichiro.
The experiment was conducted from November
2008 to December 2010 on 111 aged people at theaverage age of 73 living in Kawamoto Town of Shimane
Prefecture, who were diagnosed as not suffering fromAlzheimer's.
In the first year, the examinees were divided into twogroups. It was so arranged that the members of one
group eat two sausages a day, each containing 850
mg of DHA (i.e the DHA group), and those of the othergroup eat two fish sausages a day, containing olive oil
as additive (i.e. the placebo group). In the second year,
all the examinees were made to consume fish sausages
containing DHA.
In the first year, the DHA group showed increasingscores in cognitive function tests in six months after
they started the intake, demonstrating significant
improvement at the end of the year. The effectivenessof improving cognitive functions continued into thesecond year. Conspicuous improvement was also
observed in the second year in the placebo group (whotook placebo in the first year but consumed DHA in thesecond).
From these results, Michio Hashimoto, Associate
Professor of Shimane University's Medical Department,
concluded that the possibility is high for Alzheimer's tobe prevented with the daily consumption of two fishsausages containing DHA.
Kazuya Yamashita, Vice President of Shimane JuniorCollege, has been conducting studies on the themeof "overcoming the ages" based on the data that therate of emergence of Alzheimer's increases as the ageadvances. He found that the values of DHA in the brain
are high in the people age 80 or above who do nothave brain contraction or expansion of the ventricle ofthe brain or asymptomatic cerebral infarction. In thecase of an 81-year-old man, DHA values in the brain
declined in the one year when he was taking placebo,with the cognitive function test scores also decreasing.

DEC. 2011
However, when he started to consume DHA sausage, DHA
values turned upward and the test scores also improved.
DHA started to attract attention in 1989 when a Britist
scientiest published a thesis propounding that the higher
intelligence of Japanese children can be attributed to thefish diet. However, according to Nobuyuki Sato, Directorof Maruha Nichiro's Central Research Institute, it wasMaruha Nichiro that had proved in 1986 for the first timein the world that DHA has an effectiveness to upgrade
the memory learning capability. In 1988, the company
applied for a patent for this finding. In subsequent years,
Maruha Nichiro succeeded in mass production of DHAoil, developed the technique to make odorless DHA, andcommercialized DHA additive food, one after another.
In 2005, the company's DHA additive "Risara sausage"
was recognized as a "designated health food" for its
effectiveness to lower neutral fat in the blood. Next spring,it plans to propose new products through which DHA canbe consumed easily.
Maruha Nichiro estimates that the market of DHA
products in Japan amounts to 1,500 tons worth Y5 billion
with the prospective annual growth of 2%. The world
market is projected at 70,000 tons worth Y130 billion,
with annual growth of 8%.

Whaling
Premier says Japan should continue research whalingP

rime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said that Japan
should continue its research whaling program in theAntarctic this coming season on the ground thatJapan's position is based fully on scientific evidence.
He was responding to a question by Shigeru Ishiba,
Chairman of the Policy Research Committee of the LiberalDemocratic Party, at a Diet meeting on September 28.
In his question, Ishiba stated that the position Japanis taking with regard to the whale research programis reasonable and legitimate from the viewpoint ofconservation of the marine ecosystem. If Japan halted
the research at this point, it would mean succumbing toterrorism. Japan should continue its research whaling
also to fulfill its responsibility to 36 countries which give
support to Japan's cause at the International Whaling
Commission (IWC), he added.
In this connection, Michihiko Kano, Minister ofAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, reaffirmed the positionof the prime minister in a press conference on October 4.
Kano said Japan will continue its research withreinforced safety of the crew by sending a Fisheries
Agency vessel to guard the research fleet. Last year,
Japan was forced to suspend the research in the middle
course because of the escalating violent harassment by
the radical animal right group, Sea Shepherd Conservation
Society.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Cetacean Research andKyodo Senpaku Kaisha , Ltd., which owns the vessels used
for Japan's research whaling, announced on December
9 that they had filed a lawsuit against the Sea Shepherd
and its founder Paul Watson in a Seattle district court,
seeking injunction against the group's sabotage to Japan's
scientific whale research program in the Antarctic.

The readers are cordially invited to send their comments on articles in this issue to mnishimu@suisankai.or.jp--Editor