Despite being one of the world’s largest seafood producers, Japan has seen a sharp decline in fishery catches over the past 20 years.
Citing climate change and global warming as key factors, the Japan Fisheries Agency reported that the country’s seafood catch dropped by 13 percent between 2014 and 2019, with the downward trend continuing to this day.
According to the agency, rising water temperatures caused by global warming have led marine life to migrate to other areas with more suitable conditions for reproduction.
Data from the Japan Meteorological Agency shows that sea surface temperatures around the country’s archipelago reached their highest levels since 1982 in the first half of 2024, with an average temperature of 18.44 degrees Celsius recorded from January to June, compared to the previous record of 18.18 degrees Celsius in 1998.
According to a report in The Asahi Shimbun on July 16, 2024, Japan has also been experiencing increasingly frequent marine heatwaves, further impacting marine life in its waters.
SASHIMI, SUSHI UNDER THREAT
Japan’s 2023 Fisheries White Paper released in June last year stated that the country’s fisheries and aquaculture production in 2022 stood at 3.9 million metric tonnes, marking a 5.8 percent decline compared to the previous year.
The white paper attributed this decline primarily to weak catches of fish species such as bonito and mackerel.
Meanwhile, data from the Japan Fisheries Agency for the period between 2014 and 2019 also recorded declining catches of salmon and saury, two staple seafood items in Japanese cuisine commonly associated with sashimi and sushi.
For instance, salmon catches plummeted from 54.8 metric tonnes in 2014 to 14.2 metric tonnes in 2019, a drastic 74 percent decrease.
Saury catches have also seen a severe decline since 2003, continuing to drop to this day.
To safeguard its increasingly threatened seafood resources, Japan has built the third-generation ‘Kaiyo Maru’, a modern fisheries research vessel equipped with the latest technology.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
Built in 2023, this ship is operated by the Japan Fisheries Agency and conducts surveys in Japanese waters as well as offshore in the Pacific Ocean. Its purpose is to collect data and biological samples to gain a deeper understanding of marine resources and environmental conditions.
According to Captain Takaaki Hashimoto of the Japan Fisheries Agency, the data and samples collected will serve as a foundation for formulating more efficient and sustainable marine resource management measures.
“To utilise marine resources sustainably, it is important for us to understand the condition of these marine resources,” he said during a briefing recently, held in conjunction with the Malaysia-Japan Marine-Related Exchange Programme from Feb 18-25.
This programme is part of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth (JENESYS), organised by the Japan International Cooperation Centre (JICE) under the initiative of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The programme was attended by officers from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), who had the opportunity to learn about Japanese marine-related technologies.
According to Hashimoto, while satellite data and other sources provide information on climate and factors that may impact marine life, understanding the actual state of marine ecology requires underwater research.
“This is where the Kaiyo Maru plays its role,” he said.
Based at Harumi Wharf, Tokyo, the construction of the Kaiyo Maru was completed on March 13, 2023. It has the capacity to operate up to 12,000 nautical miles and can remain at sea for over 30 days.
A research vessel of this scale is essential for Japan, which comprises more than 6,800 islands and has vast territorial waters.
The Kaiyo Maru, which can accommodate 53 passengers, is equipped with advanced technology, including a remotely operated underwater vehicle.
IMPRESSIVE
Meanwhile, MMEA officer Sublieutenant (Maritime) Nurul Izzaatie Md Anuar, who participated in the Malaysia-Japan Marine-Related Exchange Programme, said they were introduced to the various technologies used on board the Kaiyo Maru, including scanning sonar and scientific echo sounder which are used to collect data on marine life.
“These technologies function like radar, helping to determine ocean depth and measure the distance from the water surface to the seabed, which is crucial for identifying marine life hotspots,” she said.
Sublieutenant (Maritime) Wan Abu Bakar Wan Hussain said he was impressed with the technologies used, as well as the way the Kaiyo Maru crew carried out their duties, which he described as highly meticulous.
“I was impressed to see such a large vessel owned by Japan dedicated to research. It is fully equipped with facilities and technology,” he said.
He was even more fascinated by the meticulous approach of the Japan Fisheries Agency in conducting their research.
“They are incredibly thorough in their studies, covering all the aspects necessary for managing marine resources sustainably,” he said.
“The vessel even studies the amount of plankton in their waters as plankton is a crucial element in the aquatic ecosystem, serving as a food source for fish,” he added.
