Chapter III

AQUATIC RESOURCE AND PRODUCTION

Ichiro AOKI, Kazuo OGAWA, Taku YAMAKAWA and Tomoyoshi YOSHINAGA

More than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Aquatic organisms have been collected and harvested since prehistory, and today, provides more than 2.9 billion people with at least 15 percent of their average per capita intake (SOFIA, 2008). In Japan, the share of fish proteins in total animal protein is about 40%, which is highest among animal foods. As the world’s population grows, fish and shellfish are becoming increasingly important as a source not only of animal protein but also healthy lipids, and essential micronutrients. Fisheries catch data are usually divided into capture fisheries and . In 2006, capture fisheries accounted for 92 million tons (64%) and aquaculture for 52 million tons (36%) of the total global fish production. Aquaculture production is growing quickly and expected to soon exceed that of capture fisheries. Under the present trend, it is becoming increasingly important to sustainably manage the capture fisheries through resource management, conservation and stock enhancement as well as the development of new natural resources. To increase production in aquaculture will require reducing environmental burdens, establishing seed production technology for new species such as eel and , developing feed that minimize the content of fishmeal, and producing new disease resistant species. (Ichiro Aoki and Kazuo Ogawa)

1. FISHERIES PRODUCTION

1.1 Japan In the annual fisheries and aquaculture statistics book of Japan, fisheries are divided into marine and inland fisheries. Marine fisheries comprise four divisions: distant water fisheries, offshore fisheries, coastal fisheries, and mariculture. Distant water fisheries operate on the high seas or within the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of other countries by gaining access to the fishing grounds through agreements with those countries. These include trawl

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Fig. 3.1. Changes in catches by different fisheries category. Produced using data in annual statistics reports from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

fisheries, skipjack and tuna purse-seine fisheries, tuna long-line fisheries, skipjack pole-and-line fisheries, and squid jigging fisheries. The operation of fisheries in foreign EEZs are becoming difficult. The total catch from foreign EEZs in 2006 was 50 × 105 tons, which was 9% of total catch of Japanese fishers and composed 11% of the total value. Offshore fisheries usually employ vessels larger than 10 tons operating mainly within Japan’s EEZ. They include trawl fisheries, large- and medium-sized purse seine fisheries, adjacent sea skipjack pole-and-line fisheries, and Pacific saury stick-held net fisheries. The catch amount of offshore fisheries (40%) is the largest among the four divisions, but percentage in total value is lower than for coastal fisheries. Coastal fisheries employ vessels smaller than 10 t (some not powered) or no vessels at all and include set-net fisheries and beach-seine fisheries. Coastal fishing grounds are within a one-day trip from port, and most coastal fishers operate as independent businesses. Coastal fisheries account for a large share of the total number of management bodies and fishers. Their managements are relatively stable when compared with other fisheries. However, the catch amounts have been recently decreasing. Coastal fisheries catch various including high-value fishes, and compose 25% (by weight) of the total Japanese fishery production and 31% of the total value. Production in Japanese fisheries increased steadily during the 1950s through the early 1970s (Fig. 3.1). During 1960–73, production increased f