Fisheries are also a primary industry of great importance in coastal areas, contributing to the development of regional economies. Being scattered throughout the country, the fishing communities make a vital contribution to the preservation of local traditional culture in the form of fish-eating habits, festivals, customs and manners. Japanese fisheries are, however, confronted with a number of problems, including the decline of fishery resources in waters which surround the country and the declining trends in catches as a result of deterioration of oceanic environments and depression in the industry. In addition, the decrease in the number of fishermen and their increasing average age pose serious problems, affecting the production structure and closely linked to the sustainable use of fishery resources and the stable supply of fish. Marine fisheries Marine fisheries are the most important sector of Japan's fishing industry.
Japan is surrounded by the ocean and has an enormous and complex coastline.
This geographic characteristic has allowed various kinds of fisheries development. The main products from mariculture are seaweeds, oysters, scallops, yellowtail and seabream. Production has been stagnant during the last few years, after reaching a peak in 1994. This is due to the limited capacity of farms and the excessive supply of cultured fish. In order to secure a sustainable level of outputs it is important to apply proper management in respect of the quantities of fry to be released as well as the types and quantities of feeds to be given.