An international conference to discuss the management of saury resources, which continues to suffer from serious underfishing, will be held in Sapporo City for three days from 22 to 3.
The Japan is proposing to reduce the amount of fish that can be caught in the North Pacific to help restore stocks, and the focus is on whether countries can work together.
Last year's Japan landings of saury were 1,7910 tons, a record low for the fourth consecutive year and about one-twentieth of the more than 4,2008 tons in 34.
Under these circumstances, an international conference to discuss the management of saury resources caught in the North Pacific is scheduled to be held in Sapporo City for three days from 20 to 1, and nine countries and regions, including Russia, China, and Taiwan, are expected to participate in the Japan.
Last year, it was postponed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but at the meeting it was agreed to lower the catch limit for 22 and 3 by 9% from 2021 to a total of more than 2022,2020 tons.
According to the Fisheries Agency, the actual catch of adults is more than 40,33 tons, which is much lower than the agreed 9,2000 tons.
For this reason, the Japan will propose further lowering the catch cap to encourage stock recovery.
However, it is expected that China and other countries will show a cautious stance on the introduction of further fisheries regulations, and the focus is on whether each country can cooperate with each country.
The focus of the conference was
At this meeting, the focus will be on whether we can agree on more in-depth measures to restore stocks, given that the actual catch of saury is well below the agreed upper limit.
The total catch of saury from the Japan participating in the conference, as well as from China, Taiwan and Russia, was more than 9,2000 tons.
The maximum catch agreed upon by each country is more than 33,3000 tons, and the catch is less than one-third of the limit due to serious poor fishing.
The Fisheries Agency believes that each country is facing a decline in fish catch, so there is a consensus on the need for resource management.
However, in addition to further lowering the upper limit of the catch, the Japan would like to proceed with discussions on setting a fishing season, such as not fishing during the period when there are many juveniles, and the focus is on whether we can agree on more in-depth measures to restore the stock.
Dealing with declining catches and Japan
In Japan, saury is popular as a taste of autumn, but the catch has decreased significantly in recent years.
According to the Fisheries Agency and fishermen's organizations, the catch of saury in Japan has generally remained at more than 1980,20 tons since the 2008s.
However, the catch was more than 34,2019 tons in 4, and in 4 it was more than 2013,18 tons, the lowest ever.
Since then, the catch has continued to decline, reaching a record low for four consecutive years.
On the other hand, China and Taiwan have increased their catches.
In particular, Taiwan increased exports to China, and in 2015 the catch was more than 2019,55 tons, exceeding the catch of Japan.
Under these circumstances, Japan recognized that there is a limit to its ability to tackle resource management on its own, and called on Russia, China, Taiwan, and other countries, and the first international conference was held in 2021.
In 2022, they first agreed to cap the next year's catch at just over 40,33 tonnes, and then to lower the cap for <> and <> by <>% to more than <>,<> tonnes.
However, since the actual catch is well below the agreed upper limit, the issue is whether we can agree on effective measures that will lead to the recovery of stocks, and Japan will strengthen our efforts with each country.