(Technical Intern Training Program in the fishing industry)

- In order to meet the needs of developing countries for human resource development, Japan offers a Technical Intern Training Program (a program for youth and adult workers from other countries, to provide technical intern training for them in Japanese industry for a maximum of three years).

- In the fishery sector, the program covers 17 selective works in fishing, aquaculture, and fishery processing industries.

- Technical interns are subject to laws and regulations concerning foreign nationals, such as the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. Also, they are protected under labor-related laws and regulations, such as the Labor Standards Act.

## Column: Aiming for sustainable utilization of whale resources

- In 1982, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) adopted a temporary suspension (moratorium) of commercial whaling because of insufficient scientific data on whale resources.

- Thus, in order to collect scientific data oriented toward the resumption of commercial whaling, Japan has been carrying out research on whale resources employing lethal methods since 1987 under Article 8 of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.

- In recent years, harassment by an anti-whaling organization in relation to the research in the Antarctic Ocean has become an issue. During the 2012/2013 research cruise, the organization obstructed the research team when it was hauling a captured whale onto the mother ship and when fueling at sea.

- Japan is working on related countries through diplomatic routes, and relevant ministries and agencies are cooperating with each other to take necessary measures.

- Japan has been calling for the resumption of commercial whaling for stocks that can be used in a sustainable manner, such as minke whales, from the viewpoint of (i) maintaining the principle of sustainable use of living marine resources based on scientific grounds, (ii) taking a long-term measure for food security issues, and (iii) respecting the inherent culture of each country. Since the global food shortage is expected to worsen in the near future, many countries support Japan's call. It is important to continue promoting the understanding of other countries toward resuming commercial whaling.

On "School Meal—Whale Exchange Day," deep-fried whale was provided for school meals in Shimonoseki City and Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

## (Regulation of foreign fishing vessels)

- Illegal fishing operations by foreign fishing vessels in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) hinder the effective use of fishing grounds by Japanese fishers as well as their efforts toward fishery resource management in waters surrounding Japan.

- The Fisheries Agency is strengthening monitoring and enforcement in collaboration with relevant agencies, such as the Japan Coast Guard. Efforts are being made to ensure that Japanese fishers can engage in fishing operations without anxiety, such as by intensively allocating fishery patrol vessels in waters surrounding Senkaku Islands and Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.

- In 2012, the Fisheries Agency seized 11 foreign fishing vessels (10 violations of the Act on the Exercise of the Sovereign Right for Fishery, etc. in the Exclusive Economic Zone and one violation of the Fishery Act), conducted 130 on-board inspections, and confiscated 22 pieces of fishing equipment that were installed illegally.

## Column: Many Chinese fishing vessels operating in East China Sea

- According to official statistics by the Chinese government, there were about 293,000 vessels in China in 2010. Of these, the number of fishing vessels that are 12 m or longer and that engage in offshore or far seas fishery is about 137,000, more than ten times the number in Japan. Most of these fishing vessels are considered to be operating in the Yellow Sea or the East China Sea, which are close to China.

- In the East China Sea, Japanese and Chinese fishing vessels carry out fishing operations in each other's waters under the Japan-China fishery agreement. Japanese fishery patrol vessels have confirmed that vessels that appear to be Chinese trawlers are crowding specific sea areas and conducting fishing operations. In addition, some Chinese fishing vessels have been confirmed to have introduced a new fishing method called tiger net for efficiently harvesting horse mackerel and mackerel. Therefore, there is some concern about their adverse impact on fishery resources in the East China Sea.

Chinese tiger net fishing vessel (in front) operating without a permit within Japan's EEZ. Captured by one of the Fisheries Agency's fishery patrol vessels in February 2013.