## Section 2: Recovery and reconstruction efforts in the fishing industry

## (1) Emergency response in the wake of the disaster

O The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) established the MAFF Earthquake Response Headquarters on March 11, immediately following the earthquake.

O The Fisheries Agency’s fishery patrol and research vessels worked with the private sector to transport relief supplies to the affected areas as part of MAFF's relief efforts.

Since the earthquake, fishery-related entities around Japan have provided a variety of support to the affected areas, including the transportation of emergency relief supplies, the supply of fuel oil by fishery organizations, and the cooperation of fishery processors in providing food aid.

The Fisheries Agency’s fishery patrol vessels formed a convoy with private boats in order to provide focused assistance to isolated villages around the Oshika Peninsula in Miyagi Prefecture.

(Photo: The whale research fleet's flagship, Nisshinmaru, loads relief supplies onto a purse seiner's skiff boat.)

Fishery educational institutions from around Japan used their training vessels to deliver supplies to the affected areas.

(Photo: National Fisheries University's Koyomaru. In addition to transporting relief supplies, the ship's dining hall and baths were provided for disaster victims' use).

## (2) Implementation of full-scale recovery and reconstruction measures

In addition to early recovery initiatives, full-scale reconstruction efforts using funds from the FY2011 supplementary budget were implemented in accordance with the Fisheries Recovery Master Plan (June 28) and the Basic Disaster Recovery Policy for the Great East Japan Earthquake (July 29).

Furthermore, the FY2012 budget includes various items focusing on policies aimed at resuming fishery industry operations.

Furthermore, the FY2012 budget includes various items focusing on policies aimed at resuming fishery industry operations.

## Comprehensive and integrated reconstruction of various sectors constituting the fishing industry

## Response to the nuclear power plant accident

○ Strengthen national government’s efforts for tackling the accident, including promoting inspections for radioactive materials contained in fish products

○ Disseminate food safety information overseas

### 8. Fishing communities

☐ Promote disaster-resistant fishing communities while respecting the wishes of local residents

☐ Secure optimum disaster prevention capabilities according to the circumstances of fishing commu

☐ Promote implementation of more ecological operations and the creation of a sixth industry

### 7. Fisheries cooperatives

○ Restructure organizations of fisheries cooperatives that support local fisheries

o Ensure the soundness of JF marine banks through capital injections

### 1. Fishing ports

Secure the functions necessary for the whole region at an early stage, while sharing functions among fishing ports

(1) Fishing ports serving as the national production/distribution bases for fish products

(2) Fishing ports serving as the production/distribution bases for local fishing industry

(3) Other fishing ports

Promote reconstruction of Japan’s fisheries as a whole by taking care of various sectors constituting the fishing industry and considering the local wishes

### 6. Fishery business management

☐ Secure employment opportunities for affected fishers through removal of debris, etc.

companies

☐ Promote coordination between local fishers and private

### 2. Fishing grounds and resources

o Support removal of debris from fishing grounds in which early resumption of fishing activities should be prioritized

o Continuous research on the fishing ground environment

### 3. Fishing vessels and fisheries management

☐ Promote modernization and rationalization of fishing vessels and fleets

☐ Introduce fishing vessels for joint use, and promote joint and collaborative operations

☐ Ensure supply of fish products through measures to respond to fuel price hikes, etc.

### 4. Aquaculture and stock enhancement

○ Promote joint or collaborative operations in order to foster highly productive aquaculture operators

○ Reconstruct system for producing and releasing seedlings of salmon, etc.

### 5. Fishery processing and distribution

☐ Promote integration of facilities or formation of facility complex according to local wishes

☐ Support creation of a sixth industry and the improvement of quality and sanitation management

☐ Restructure landing area markets in a manner consistent with the reconstruction of fishing ports

## Reconstruction with Budgeted Projects (Example)

## Pier raising (Kesennuma Fishing Port, Miyagi Prefecture)

Renovation of an ice making facility (Miyako Fishery Cooperative, Iwate Prefecture)