## Topics -- Fisheries in FY2006 --

### 1. New Basic Fisheries Plan

-- Speed up structural reform process in fisheries industry --

( Measures under the basic fisheries plan and changes in the self-sufficiency rate)

Japan's fisheries policy has two basic principles -- securing stable supply of fishery products and sound development of the fisheries industry. These principles are enshrined in the Basic Law on the Fisheries Policy that was established in 2001. The law requires the Government to develop a basic fisheries plan to comprehensively and systematically promote fisheries measures.

The basic fisheries plan was developed in March 2002. Since then, the Government and relevant stakeholders have implemented various measures in production and consumption areas, including fishery resources restoration efforts that have begun to spread nationwide. Japan's self-sufficiency rate for fishery products for human consumption rose back from the bottom of 53% between FY2004 and 2002 to 57% in FY2005.

(Changes in Japan's fisheries industry and fishing village situation)

Since 2002, however, Japan's fisheries industry and fishing village situation has turned around. The fisheries policy is faced with new problems that should be solved urgently.

Japan's annual production of fishery products for human consumption remained around 4.5 million tons in the past several years after continuing a moderate decline. Factors behind the absence of growth in such production include depleted fishery resources in waters surrounding Japan. Such resources have been depleted as Japan's fishing grounds has been deteriorated by the decline of underwater plant beds and tidelands, despite some signs of restoration of resources. Another factor is that Japan's fisheries industry has been weakened by a decline in the number of fishery workers and their aging.

While fishery products are important for the Japanese dietary pattern that features well-balanced nutrition, Japan's consumption of such products has been declining fast since FY2001 (annual per capita supply decreased from 40.2 kg in FY 2001 to 34.4 kg in FY 2005 on a net food basis). Behind the decline, children have kept away from eating fish. Young people have been shifting away from fish quickly as fish are generally tough to cook. Fishery products production and supply in Japan have failed to meet changes in consumer needs, including a growing shift to easy eating.

(Development of a new basic fisheries plan)

In consideration of such changes in the situation and ratings for effects of past measures, the Government developed a new basic fisheries plan in March 2007 to reform the whole of the fisheries policy and promote fisheries measures comprehensively and systematically.

First, the new plan calls for improvement of resources productivity, and restoration and management of fishery resources in Japan's exclusive economic zone and for promotion of international management of fishery resources given that fishery resources in Japan's surrounding waters and high seas have been depleted.

The new plan also says Japan should create a sustainable fishery production system commensurate with sustainability resources through development of internationally competitive fishery operators and a vigorous working environment in order to secure stable supply of fishery products for the future, at a time when Japan's fierce