Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
Labeling of the catch areas for fishery products

Stressing the safety of Alaska pollack to media reporters from South Korea (Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations)

- Alaska pollack in Hokkaido Prefecture had been exported mainly to South Korea as a popular ingredient for hot-pot and other dishes. However, exports decreased sharply after the accident of TEPCO's F1NPS.

- In order to wipe out South Korean consumers' concerns and recover the export of Alaska pollack, the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations invited South Korean media reporters to Hokkaido in January 2013, so that they would report on the information on food safety gathered in Hokkaido back in South Korea.

## (4) Developments toward resumption of fishery in Fukushima Prefecture

- The Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations set up the Fukushima Local Fisheries Reconstruction Council, consisting of representatives from fishery-related entities, fishery processors and distributors, financial institutions, academic experts, and Fukushima prefectural government, aiming for the recovery of the fishing industry and resumption of fishery operations off Fukushima Prefecture.

- After deliberations at the Council and the conference of the heads of fishery cooperatives in Fukushima Prefecture, offshore trawlers belonging to the Soma-Futaba Fishery Cooperative started trial fishing operations in limited sea areas and for limited fish species in June 2012.

- The target fish species and fishing methods have been expanded; and as of the end of May 2013, 16 species were targeted, including North Pacific giant octopus, Japanese common squid, horse hair crab, Japanese whelk, thornyhead, bigeyed greeneye, and juvenile sand lance. The fishery products caught in the trial fishing operations have been distributed, after strict check of radioactive cesium, not only within Fukushima Prefecture, but also to central wholesale markets in Sendai, Tokyo, and Nagoya. They were sold out and delivered to consumers in various locations.

## Efforts at Onahama Port

- The Onahama Port in Fukushima Prefecture had been developed as a hub port for far-seas skipjack fishing vessels and large and medium-sized purse seiners. However, due to the damage by the earthquake and tsunami as well as the accident of TEPCO's F1NPS, vessels from other prefectures that used to land catches at the Onahama Port have come to avoid using the port.

- In such a situation, Aeon Retail Co., Ltd., a large distributor of nation wide, started an action to purchase skipjack that were landed at the Onahama Port and sell them at its retail stores, starting from June 2012 until the end of the skipjack fishing season in September.

- In addition, 100,000 cans of flaked skipjack, made of the species that were landed at the Onahama Port, were manufactured, and have been sold under the brand name of the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations since January 2013.
## Section 1 : Trends in the supply and demand of fish and fishery products

(1) Trends in the supply and demand of fish and fishery products

- The supply of fish and fishery products for domestic human consumption in FY2011 fell 11% compared to FY2006.

Structure of production and consumption of fish and fishery products in Japan and changes in the supply of fish and fishery products for domestic consumption

Source: MAFF, Food Supply and Demand.

## (2) Trends in Japan’s fish and fishery product imports and exports (Trends in Japan’s fish and fishery product imports)

- Japan’s imports of fish and fishery products in 2012 rose in volume by 1.6% over the previous year at 2.74 million tons, and rose in value by 3.4% over the previous year at 1.50 trillion yen.

## Changes in Japan's fish and fishery product import volume and value

Source: Ministry of Finance, Trade Statistics.

## (Trends in Japan’s fish and fishery product exports)

- Japan’s exports of fish and fishery products in 2012 stood at 440,000 tons in volume, rising by 3.6% over the previous year when exports were substantially affected by the import restrictions imposed by many countries due to the nuclear power plant accident. The export value decreased by 2.4% from the previous year to 170.0 billion yen.

## Changes in Japan’s fish and fishery product export volume and value
(3) Japan's self-sufficiency rate of fish and fishery products for human consumption

(Self-sufficiency rate of fish and fishery products for human consumption remaining flat in recent years)

- While the self-sufficiency rate of fish and fishery products for human consumption has shown a slight increase or remained flat in recent years, in FY2011, the rate declined by 4 points from the previous year to 58% due to a drop in domestic production resulting from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Changes in the self-sufficiency rate, etc. of fish and fishery products for human consumption

Source: MAFF, Food Supply and Demand.

## Section 2 : Trends in Japan’s fisheries

## (1) Trends in fisheries and aquaculture

## (Domestic fishery and aquaculture production)

- Japan’s fishery and aquaculture production volume in 2011 stood at 4.77 million tons, falling by 10% from the previous year due to a significant decline in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The production value came at 1.42 trillion yen, decreasing by 4% from the previous year.

2011
(1,000 tons)
Production volume	Total	4,765
Marine	4,692
Fishery	3,823
Far-seas fishery	431
Offshore fishery	2,263
Coastal fishery	1,129
Aquaculture	869
Inland water	73
Fishery	34
Aquaculture	39

Production value (trillion yen)

2011 (10 million yen)
Production value	Total	14,210
Marine	13,291
Fishery	9,394
Far-seas fishery	...
Offshore fishery	...
Coastal fishery	...
Aquaculture	3,897
Inland water	918
Fishery	202
Aquaculture	716

Source: MAFF, Annual Statistics on Fishery and Aquaculture Production.

Note: From 2007 to 2010, figures for the fishery and aquaculture production categories of “Far-seas fishery,” “Offshore fishery,” and “Coastal fishery” are estimates.
Percentage of women in fishery workers in the fishing industry and the fishery-processing industry

Women group of the Shikai Fishery Cooperative cooking a traditional dish of sweetly stewed sole

## (2) Condition related to business management of fisheries and aquaculture (Comprehensive initiative combining income stability measures and cost-reduction measures)

- As an initiative for ensuring both appropriate management of fishery resources and stable fishery business management, the government has implemented resource-management/fishery-business-management stability measures as a comprehensive business-management-stability initiative, combining resource-management/income-stability measures (measures to support fishers who systematically engage in resource management by utilizing the system of fishery mutual aid) and cost-reduction measures (measures to mitigate the rising prices of fuel and formula feed).

- Given that crude oil prices are on the rise, the requirements for receiving compensation under the cost-reduction measures were revised in FY2012 so as to ease the impact on fishers in the event that the fuel and compound feed price hikes were prolonged.

Outline of the resource-management/fishery-business-management stability measures

✓ When an income decreases by an amount exceeding a predetermined amount from the reference income level (note), the decreased income is compensated by the fishery mutual aid (up to 80%, in principle) and/or "Tsumitate Plus" (up to 90%, in principle).

✓ Compensation is provided for resource management activity by using the systems of fishery mutual aid and “Tsumitate Plus.”
## (For changing the operation system of fisheries using fishing vessels)

- Japanese fishing vessels are decreasing and aging. This is because fishers/fishing companies cannot afford to build new fishing vessels due to the stagnation of fishery income.

- In order to shift the operation and production systems of fisheries using fishing vessels to more profitable ones, the government has implemented a project of comprehensive measures for fisheries structural reform, and has created model cases for increased profitability.

## Outline of project of comprehensive measures for fisheries structural reform

## Column: Efficient fishery using latest technology

- Fishery-related technology has continued to advance, and the latest technology has been applied in various types of fisheries to increase efficiency in operations.

- For example, in saury stick-held dip net fishery, efforts have been made to catch fish more efficiently by introducing the latest fish finder (capable of guessing the fish species constituting the fish shoal) and fish pump, to increase efficiency and save power by making information on oceanic conditions visible with the use of a personal computer, and to save energy by using LED fish lamps.

By mounting a fishing plotter, a vessel can automatically receive data (location, water temperature, tidal current, etc.) from consort vessels, and display the data on the plotter screen. It substantially enhances the vessel's ability to find fishing grounds.

## (3) Ensuring the safety of fishing operations

## (Status of fishing vessel accidents at sea)

- 651 fishing vessels met with marine accidents in 2012. The total number of people who were killed or went missing in such accidents was 55. In addition, 62 people were killed or went missing by falling overboard in instances that were not marine accidents in 2012.
## (Safety measures in fisheries)

- In an effort to enhance safety in fishing operation, the government is promoting research toward preventing fishing vessels from capsizing and the development of technology for remodeling fishing vessels (safety-improvement measures) by private organizations. Support is also being provided to promote the usage of life jackets (effective for increasing the survival rates of people who fall overboard).

Survival rate of people who fall overboard from fishing vessels (2012)

The latest lifejackets: lightweight and mobile

## (4) Trends in fishery cooperatives

- In order for fishery cooperatives to continue to respond to the various needs of fishers and to function as core organizations in the fishing industry and fishing communities, it is important to strengthen their organization and foundations, including expanding their management scale through a merger. It is also essential that fishery cooperatives reform their management and business, such as by strengthening their marketing business and increasing the soundness and efficiency of their credit business. Also, an ailing fishery cooperative should implement a restructuring plan.

- The challenge is to take measures to train officers and employees who will manage the organization and business of fishery cooperatives and measures to ensure compliance.

- Some fishery cooperatives have held study sessions aimed at enhancing the skills of their marketing staff.

## Changes in the number of fishery cooperatives in coastal areas and merged fishery cooperatives

Source: Fisheries Agency, Annual Report on Fishery Cooperatives

## (5) Trends in fish and fishery product distribution and processing (Status of fish and fishery product distribution)

- Most fishery products are sorted and loaded in wholesale fishery markets in production areas adjacent to the ports where they were landed, after which they are shipped to wholesale markets in consumption areas. Products typically reach consumers after passing through two wholesale markets.

- Most wholesale fishery markets in production areas are established and operated by fishery cooperatives, and they have small trade volumes and poor pricing power. Therefore, in order to increase the income of fishers, it is crucial to merge markets, concentrate facilities, and promote the entry of new purchasers.

General distribution channel for fish and fishery products
## (Current status of the fishery-processing industry)

- The value of shipments in the fishery-processing industry in 2010 was 3.12 trillion yen. This accounts for 13% of the total value of shipments in the food-manufacturing industry.

- Of fish and fishery products for domestic human consumption, 60% is shipped to processors. The fishery-processing industry holds an important position in the domestic fish and fishery product supply chain.

- As many as 90% of fishery-processing plants are located in coastal areas. The fishery-processing industry is a core industry for fishing communities.

## (Introduction of the HACCP system in the fishery-processing industry)

- In order to provide safe fish and fishery products to consumers, it is vital to promote the introduction of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system in the fishery-processing industry, which is the largest domestic user of fish and fishery products.

- When exporting fish and fishery products to the United States and the EU, fishery-processing facilities need to have introduced hygiene control under the HACCP system and satisfy the relevant HACCP requirements.

- As for HACCP accreditation for facilities used for exports to the EU, efforts are being made to resolve problems hindering early accreditation, such as establishing a meeting between the Fisheries Agency, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, local governments (fisheries department, food-hygiene department), and related industries, and creating a manual on the facility conditions required for the accreditation.

Changes in the number of facilities introducing the HACCP system in the fishery-processing industry

Source: Fisheries Agency survey.

## Requirements for HACCP accreditation concerning exports of fish and fishery products (comparison between USA and EU)

Domestic accrediting organizations	Ministry of Health, Labour and WelfareThird-party institutions (Japan Fisheries Association, etc.)
Scope of HACCP accreditation	Processing facilities

Domestic accrediting organizations	Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (accreditation, registration)	Fisheries Agency (registration)
Scope of HACCP accreditation	Processing facilities, storage facilities, markets	Fishing vessels, aquaculture farms

## Section 3 : Trends in Japan's fishery resources and fishing grounds environments

## (1) Fishery resources in waters surrounding Japan

- According to the FY2011 assessment of the state of major fishery resources in waters surrounding Japan, of the assessment targets (52 species, 84 stocks), the resource level was high for 15 stocks (17.9%), medium for 34 stocks (40.5%), and low for 35 stocks (41.7%).

- In recent years, the percentage of low-level stocks has fallen, while that for medium-level stocks has risen.
## Current resource levels of major fishery resources in waters surrounding Japan and changes in the resource levels

Source: Fisheries Agency and Fisheries Research Agency, Assessment of Fishery Resources in Japan's Surrounding Waters, and others.

## (2) Appropriate management of fishery resources

## (Combination of public regulations and voluntary resource management)

- Around Japan, fisheries are diverse, being operated from Japan’s coastal areas to offshore locations and the far seas, with different target fish species and fishery types.

- In Japan, public regulations (fishery rights, fishing permits, etc.) and fishers' voluntary resource management are combined based on the characteristics of each species and fishery type in order to coordinate the uses of fishing grounds by various fishers and to effectively manage fishery resources.

## Column: Characteristics of the TAC system in Japan

- Fishery resource management based on the total allowable catch (TAC) system has the following advantages: (i) the catch volume can be directly managed for each fish species; and (ii) flexible management is possible since a new TAC is set every year. On the other hand, it has the following drawbacks: (i) it requires a substantial amount of scientific knowledge; and (ii) a monitoring framework is indispensable for identifying and managing the catch volume, which requires an enormous administration cost.

- Also, if only an upper limit to the TAC were set without further regulations, it would lead to Olympic-fisheries, causing fishers to rush for the fish, and would likely deteriorate fishery business management through excessive investment in fisheries.

- The TAC system in Japan adopts a process whereby TAC is first distributed under a specific rule, and the distributed TAC is managed under an agreement concluded among fishers. This method allows for detailed management of TAC and provides stable operation opportunities to fishers.

## (Resource management based on public regulations)

- For fisheries targeting sedentary resources in coastal areas, the prefectural governor grants common fishery rights to fishery cooperatives. The rights are granted by specifying the fishing ground area, the target fish species, and fishing methods. Also, resource-management measures, such as restriction of fishing gear, fishing methods, and operation period, are implemented under the rules on exercise of fishery rights.

- For offshore and far-seas fisheries, which require coordination between areas and between fishery types and have a large influence on resources, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or the prefectural governor issues fishing permits. The number and gross tonnage of fishing vessels, operation period and area, and fishing methods are regulated under this permit system.

- The TAC system, which sets the upper limit of annual allowable catch volume, is implemented for seven species (saury, Alaska pollack, horse mackerel, sardine, mackerels, Japanese common squid, and snow crab).
## (Voluntary resource management by fishers)

- In addition to public regulations, fishers have made voluntary resource-management efforts such as suspension of fishing operations, restriction on body length, and restriction of the operation period and area.

- Through a number of projects, the government has supported resource-management efforts made under a voluntary agreement by related fishers.

- Since 2002, resource recovery plans had been implemented whereby related entities jointly work toward reducing the fishing effort and cultivating resources for those resources that need to be recovered promptly.

## (Implementation of systematic resource management nationwide)

- A new resource-management system was launched in FY2011. Under this system, the national and prefectural governments formulate resource-management policies, and based on those policies, fishers' organizations create resource-management plans and implement them.
## (Promoting the development of resources through seedling release)

- Fish farming, which actively increases fishery resources through producing and releasing seedlings of fish and shellfish and managing their growth, contributes to the recovery of fishery resources and the stability of business management of fishers engaged in coastal fishery.

- Regional Sea-Farming Promotion Committees were established in FY2011 for six sea areas nationwide, and they promote cooperation between related prefectures in seedling production and release activities.

## Major target species of Regional Sea-Farming Promotion Committees

Column: To deliver eco-labeled fishery products to consumers

- Fishery eco-labels are marks attached to fishery products to indicate that they have been caught by a method that gives consideration to the sustainability of ecosystems and resources.

- In May 2012, products attaching the mark of Marine Eco-Label Japan (MEL Japan), a Japanese fisheries organization, started to be sold full-fledged by two large retail chains. In May 2013, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), headquartered in the United Kingdom, granted a certification to scallop fishery conducted by the Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations.

- Although products attaching a fishery eco-label began to reach consumers more frequently, it is necessary to further enhance consumer recognition of the marks in order to further disseminate the marks in the future.
## Section 4 : International affairs surrounding the fisheries

## (1) State of world fisheries and aquaculture production

- The global fishery production volume peaked after the second half of the 1980s. In 2011, the production volume was 94.6 million tons. By country, China has the highest volume, accounting for 17.0% of the world's production volume. By fish species, production volume of herrings, sardines, and anchovies is the largest, accounting for 22.4% of the overall volume.

- Global aquaculture production continues to increase, especially in China. In 2011, the production volume was 83.73 million tons. By country, China has the highest volume, accounting for 59.9% of the world's production volume. By fish species, carps represent the highest volume, making up 30.0% of the total.

Changes in global fishery production (by country)

Changes in global fishery production (by fish species)

Source: FAO, Fishstat (Capture Production) (data for countries except Japan) and MAFF, Annual Statistics on Fishery and Aquaculture Production (data for Japan).

Changes in global aquaculture production (by country)

Changes in global aquaculture production (by fish species)

Source: FAO, Fishstat (Aquaculture Production) (data for countries except Japan) and MAFF, Annual Statistics on Fishery and Aquaculture Production (data for Japan)