Coastal Fishery of Japan
Fishing and fish― eating people

Where do fish gather?

CONTENTS

E:::ti:∫ Fill」 f:ullour children(1)Preserve rich sea by the natural power(2)ProteCtiVe measures against environmental degradation

Votive pictulc of scinc

Fisheries Agencyl‐ 2‐

1,KaSullligascki,Chiyoda‥ ku,Tokyo,JapanTEL 03‑3502‐ 8111/FAX 03‐ 3595‐ 1426
Japan Fisheries Resource ConservatiO■

Association

Tokyo‐suisan Bldg.4,18,Toyolnicho,Chuo‐ ku,Tokyo,JapanTEL 03‑3534… 0681/FAX 03‐

0195
"32‐

Fisheries Agency

Fishing and」 Esh― eating people

Where do l■ sh gather ?

Thc sca surrounding Japan is whcre the、 varm Kuroshio Current flom thc south and thc nutricnt― rich Oyashio

Fish do not inhabit thc cntirc occan. Fishermcn must deal、Currcnt from thc north mectoccan currcnts and thc habits and ecology of ish and algac, besides acquiring flshing skills, accumulatc

As a rcsult,a、 vide varicty of flsh,shellflsh and algac grow in abundancc throughout the year

experience,to flnaHy bccomc a profcssional.Thc coastal flshcrman not only knows thc flshing ground likc

Fron■ thc beginning oftiine thc Japancsc pcoplc havc lived with thc sea with flshing bcing onc of thc main

his own gardcn but also carcfully protects thc cnvironmcnt to cnhancc the growth Of flsh and algac.

mcans of living,constantly dcvcloping vcrsatilc coastal flshing industrics、

vith thc Naturc,forccast thc weather,know thc

vhich has becn carricd on to now,

Indccd,thc coastal sca has providcd the lllttor diCtary sourcc for thc Japancsc pcoplc From no、 v on,Japan
should scck a positivc balancc bct、 vccn cnvironmcntal protection(inCluding、 vild lifc protcction)and the cf̲
fcctivc usc of the flshcry rcsourccs when promoting its coastal flshcry industry.

Ree■
Risen sea bottoms with shallo、 v scas arc callcd reefs.Fish flndcrs
indicatc that flsh gathcr on and around rccfs thus constituting goodflshing grounds
One of such rccfs called Zenisu in lzu Pcninsula is known as an

cxcellcnt spawning ground for mackcrcl Rccently, many sport
flshing boats gathcr in this arca to catch larger flsh likc ambcttaCkS.

lfish Oather

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The Ocean currents around Japan:

Junction of the Kuroshio and Oyashio Currents
Satelite photograph:(Red〓 Kuroshlo,Blue=Oyashlo)

Fish school gathering around reef

Japancsc conSumC more sca food and algae thanJapan's flshing industry is predominantly coastal.

Europeans and AIncricans

Thc coastal flshery is the corc ofthc Japancse flshcry

Current rip:industry and incrcasing in importancc every ycar

Migratory flsh often gather at currcnt rip which is causcd by

Sea foods and algac havc bccn rccognizcd as vcry

meeting of two different typcs of currcnt such as warm and cold

hcalthy foods rcccntly.

currcnts or off― shorc and coastal currents
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Medium and sma!卜 scale

A冊 o‖ cafisheries

Canadakg//year

Anmual per capita supplies of edible fisheryproducts in the world(Average of 1984 to 1986):

The number of fishery enterprises in Japan:

ⅣIap showing the sea around Zenisu)

Languagc is closcly linkcd with thc culturc of socicty Countlcss numbcr of grasscs and trccs as、

vcll as islland shcllish arc namcd in thc original Yamato Japancsc languagc,such as lwashi(Sardinc),Saba(maCkCrcl),
Tai(SCa brcan3), Ebi(shrimp),lka(Squid),TakO(OCtOpus)and Hamaguri(clam)ThC Samc flsh is Oftcn
callcd in diffcrcnt namcs according to growth stagcs,for cxamplc,ycllowtail is callcd starting flom juvcnilc

stagc:MoJako,Tsubasu,Wakashi,Inada,Warasa and flnally Buri This illustratcs thc historical c10sc
associatioln Of tllc Japancsc pcoplc with flsh and shc■ ■sh,sO much so it has bccOmc a pal‐ t ofthc Japancsc
culturc

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Ancient fishing hook

Present days fishing hooks

made from deer horn

Angling:

Scoop netting:This is thc oldcst form of flshing Thc flngcr dcfccts thC

A V‐ shape scoop nct callcd an Azo madc of 10 to 12

gathcring flsh or thc movcmcnt of currcnt by a subtle

mctcr cyprcss logs or bamboo framc is uscd. It is

touch on thc flshing linc Baits and flshing dcviccs havc

cxtcndcd frolll thc boヽ v of a rlshing boat. When thcvere 42,530
evolvcd ovcr thc years ln 1989, thcrc 、

school of flsh is found,thc boat rushcs to thc sccnc andcntcrprises cngagcd in this form of coastal fishingcasts thc nct to scoop thcln up Sand lanc9 and krill arc
thc main catch Fccding sea birds or current rip indicate

a prospcctivc flshing ground.

6

Gill netting:Fish passagc is blocked by a long floating net,

、
vhich

cntaglcs flsho Whcrc thc currcnt is strong,thc nct is set

Payao fishing:and haulcd、vhen thc currcnt slackcns

Payao is an artiflcal floating reef which attracts

A varicty of flsh is caught,such as natflsh,shriinp andligrating flsh such as skipjack and tuna which can then■lobster. Thcrc wcre 27,061 cntcrprises engaged in thisbc nshcd This form of flshing is conductcd mainly

form of flshing in coastal arcas in 1989

around thc Okina、 va lslands

Boat seining
T、vo boats procccd in thc sanlc dircction as thc

currcnt toM′ ing a nct bctwcen thcm

Smallpclagic flsh such as 、
vhitebait, anchOvy, andsand lancc arc thc inain catch Thc currcnt rip is

an indicator Of a prospcctivc flshing ground.
vere engaged in this fOrm of
2,957 cntcrpriscs 、
flshing in 1989

Set net rlshing:

Shellflsh and Seaweed harvesting:Thc nct is sct at a flxcd coastal flshingThis flshing is conductcd in rccfs and tidal■

ground to catch scasonally lnigrating flshclosc to thc shore and thcrcforc is vcry

as thcy pass through Frcsh flsh bcst in

vatcr pollution ln
vuincrable to land f11l and 、

ats

scason can bc caught but the catch

1989, 17,649(shcllflSh harvcsting)and ll,253

fluctuates according to thc stock sizc and(SCaWCCd harvcsting)cntCrpriscs wcrc cngagcd

to changcs in the currcnt

in this operation

7,163 cntcrpriscs wcrc engagcd in this formof flshing in 1989

Seaweed harvesting:
Clam harvesting:

9
Oshiki Ami

Daibo Ami

Ochi Ami

Laver(Nori)farming:
Lavcr culturc was startcd in the Bay of Tokyo somc 300 ycars ago and has no、At thc bcginning sticks or bamboo wcrc uscd to gro、v sprcad throughout thc nationv thc alga on.Today,horizontaly extended Nori culture

nct is uscd、 vhich together、 vith Othcr tcchnical innovations has remarkably incrcascd rcccnt Nori production

ln 1989, 13,477 cntcrpriscs wcrc cngaged in laver culturc

Octopus potting:
Octopus is trappcd in a pot or box placcd atthe sea bottom
using its habit to dwell in rock opcning. It is said to bedifflcult to trap octopus during May to July whcn they
movc around cxtcnsivcly seeking foods

Let's leaverich sea to our children
Wild life protection:

Marine resources are onc of our greatest assets.Lct us conscrvc,protcct and leave the rich sea to the future
generations.Wc should not overfish the resources for it is our duty to pass on to our childrcn

Fishcrmcn voluntccr toprotcct wild lifc(Rclcasing
young sca turtlcs)(1)Preserve rich sea by the natural powerProtected waters:
To maintain and enhance lnarinc resources,63 protcctcd waters have been designated throught out thc nation under

the Marine Resources Protection Law as of 1991.

Fish gathering forest:
Forcst is a green dam.It prcvents the washing ofsoil and sand,storesrain、 vater,and provides ideal environmcnt for the flsh and shell■ shin the coastal waters.Though Japan is mountainous,it is cndowed、
vith rich forests sustaincd by a warm, wct occanic climate. These
forcsts have protcctcd Japan's rich coastal flsh and shellflsh resourccs

Beach clean… up:

Fishermen

voluntccr toconserve rlshing grounds.

10

11

Tidal flat:
Tidal flat purifles thc sca.It serves as nurscry grounds for shellflsh
like clams and fry of prawn and flatflsh lt purifles the sea water day

Seaweed bed:

and night while nursing the flshcry resources.People lnay visit tidal

Seawccd beds are important rlsh brccding,spawning and feeding grounds.

flats to dig clams at spring low tides and will e可contacts with various forms of marine life

Oy CICar scawater and(2)Protective measuresagainst environmental

degradation

R4easures against oil pollution
Oil poHution rcprcscnt a highly signiflcant sharc of thc
ovcr all inarine pollution Oil leaked into the sea scriously
aflccts not only the lives of flsh,shcllflsh and algae but also

marineRed tide

birds

and

malnmalsEvenliinitcd

oilcontamination rctards growth of thosc animals and spoils

Rcd tidc is causcd by blooms of phytoplankton which changc thc color ofthc sca lt kill culturing flsh andthem as food bccausc of the odor and tastc of oil.

causes paralytic shcllflsh poisoning.(3urrently,thc Fishcries Agency is taking thc following measurcs against

Oil spillcd from tankers forn1 0il balls、 vhich drift aroundrcd tide:

the occan and spoil beautiful beaches and damagc coastal(1)E)ispatch an obscrvation planc to locate thc rcd tide at an carly stagc, and monitor its movcment「 Isheryling plankton(2)Chcck ShCnflsh poisoning incidcnts,investigatc the distribution,color and kind of bloo■in collaboration with the flshcry cooperativcs and inforlll thc local govcrnmcnts concerned accordingly

The Fishcrics Agcncy subsidizcs local govcrnmcnts for a(3)Survey thc oceanic condition,sca water quality and sca bcd condition at thc tiinc of red tide、 vith a vicw
to、 vard cstablishing forccasting tcchniquc for rcd tide and shcllflsh poisoning.To prcvcnt flshcry damagc by

poHution flghting cquipmcnt,and of chartcring aircraft topart ofthc cost of oil fcnces,absorption inats,and othcr oll

monitor flshing grounds against oil pollution

rcd tidc and restorc flsing grounds dcvastatcd by it,thc Fishcrics Agcncy is engagcd in a rcscarch program.
It includes dcvclopmcnt oftcchnologies to rastore thc quality of sea、 vatcr and to improve sca bcd conditions.

About 900 tons of oil spilled from theⅣlaritime

Gardenia" which ran aground off the Tango
Peninsula。 (25 January 1990)

12
DIAGRAⅣ I=The funding system to compensate fisherydamage from oil p01lution.

Whcn flshing damagc occurrs and thc pollutcr is
identiflcd, thc sufferers claiin against thc polluter forcompensation. Thc National Fcderation of FisheryApp‖ catlon and pavlnent of oolnpensllion.
Screening and certification.

Coopcratives providcs lcgal advicc conccrning clailn
proccdurcs
Whcn thc pollutcr cannnot bc identiflcd,thc Oil Pollution
Fund providcs a compensation to the suffcrcrs

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Thc sufferers should rcquest thc Foundation for such rclicf
aid through their relcvant flshery cooperativc

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Thc Rclief Fund for Oil Pollution Damagcin Fishing
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Ground is super宙 scd jointly by thc Ministry of Agri‐culturc,Forcstry and Fishcrics,thc Ministry of lntcrna―

tional Trade and lndustry,and thc Ministry of Trans―
portation lts opcrational cxpcnscs arc shared by privatc

shipping and Oil companics, local govcrnmcnts, andthc statc.Thc Fund has dispcnscd somc 3.6 billlon Ycn
in conpcnsation sincc its cstabliShmcnt in 1975

Red tide off the coast of Wakayama

Chemical pollution

Organization to control fishery pollution

Fishcry damage causcd by chcmical pollution is catcgorized into(1)MasS mOrtalitics or rctarded growth ofAppropriatc and swift responsc is ncccssary to cope、vith flshery pollution which oftcn occurs suddenly

marinc organisms caused by cmucnts of cyanide,arscnic,agricultural chcnlicals,etc and(2)Fish throughbiological accumulation of lnercury,PBC,ctc bcconling unsafc and incdiblc
Recently,thc Water Contanlination Prcvcntion Law and other regulation havc shown signiflcant cffcct in
rcducing mass mortalities of flsh On the other hand, thcrc havc bccn incrcasing conccrn on sea foods

Thercforc,p01lution advisers arc postcd at each of thc

contalllinatcd by biological accumulation of harmful chclnicals through thc food chain.Though chcmical

local govcrnmcnt. The adviscrs rcgularly monitor thc
flshing grounds and advisc ways tO copc with aquatic
pollution whcn it happcn They alsO providc ncccssary

pollution is at low levels it affccts safcty and conlmercial valuc of flsh.Bcsidc dircct contanlination of thc

information on flshery pollution to thc flshingincincration,and thc cffluents、 vhich bccomc harmful substanccs aftcr thcir dischargc into thc rivcrs or thc sea

colnmunlty
Thc Fishcrics Agcncy subsidizes thc costs of thcsc

are also contalninating flsh and shellflsh

pollution adviscrs

watcr by chemical substanccs, harmful by―

products of manufacturing agriculture chclnicals, and of wastc

Thc Fisherics Agcncy monitors thc lcvcl of chcnlical contanlination of flsh and shcllflsh and adviscs thc
flshcrmcn to voluntarily lilnit thc catch of shcll flsh and flsh whcn thc lcvcl of chenlical contamination exceeds

the standards
Thc Agency also conducts survcys to identify potcntially harmful substances and alcrts rninistries and agcncics

conccrncd against possible contanlination lt maintains a rcscarch program on harmful chcmicals and toxic

substanccs,and on thc mcchanism of contamination

DIAGRAⅣ I― Organization against rlshery pollution

14

DIAGRAⅣ I― Harmful substances■ owed into the sea。

Zoo口 lanktonom wato『F『

om food.

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Ⅳlovies and TV Fllms related to fishery pollution control

Movies and TV fllms relatcd to thc prcvention andcontrol of flshcry pollution arc produced, shown andlcascd frcc― of― chargc

Somc f11lns are lcascd flom municipal audlo―
ccnters or librarics

三 里昌

16mm罰 lms.

video