Japan

Empowering fishing communities for a more sustainable future

Surrounded by rich seas and blessed with highly productive estuarine waters and lakes, the Japanese people have historically relied on a wide variety of marine products and embraced seafood as an intimate part of their culture. In fact, the importance of seafood is deeply woven into Japan’s culture. Fishing technology, processing and preservation methods, and cooking tools and techniques have been passed down through generations as local knowledge and continue to be used in Japan’s seafood-centered diet today.

People involved in fishing worldwide respect the Japanese fishermen who embody Japan’s fish-centric culture with their traditional fishing methods and strong work ethic that is responsible for strengthening their fishing communities and local supply chains. However, fish and other resources in the waters around Japan are decreasing year over year as a result of overfishing, coupled with impacts on fish populations driven by climate change — threatening the future livelihoods of people engaged in fishing.

By ensuring the sustainability of its marine products, Japan can be a pioneer in the conservation of marine resources worldwide. Protecting marine resources in Asia-Pacific countries is an urgent issue for the nutrition and livelihoods of millions of people. We believe Japan has a significant role to play as Asia’s largest developed country in leading the way towards sustainable fishing that yields more fish, food and prosperity.

Our work in Japan

Environmental Defense Fund seeks to contribute to sustainable fisheries in Japan by working directly with the fishing industry, government and academic partners, and by sharing learnings from our work in similar situations encountered around the world.

By working together to solve problems and helping people to understand and participate in science and policy, EDF aims to help make sustainable fishing the norm — not only in Japan but worldwide. By doing so we will ensure both the development of local communities and the protection of the global environment.