A Fisheries Agency panel held its first discussions on how to strengthen protection for and controls over declining fish stocks in seas near Japan.
By tightening regulations on catches and diversifying fishing methods, Japan hopes to achieve the twin goals of restoring fish stocks and increasing catches.
The panel, which had its first meeting Monday, plans to work out details of the measures by the end of June, according to agency officials.
In 2012, Japan’s fishery production totaled about ¥1.42 billion, less than half the 1982 peak of ¥2.98 billion.
An agency assessment shows stocks of close to 43 percent of fish species are at low levels in the country’s coastal waters, including aji horse mackerel in the Pacific, underlining the need to restore populations.
To help stem the downward trend in fishery stocks around Japan, the panel will discuss expanding the reach of the total allowable catch (TAC) system, which sets upper limits for catches of a particular fish, the officials said.
Currently, only seven species, including sanma saury and common squid, are subject to the resource control system.
Discussions are also anticipated on measures to promote the individual fishing quota program, designed to set boat-by-boat catch quotas under the TAC system.
The Yomiuri Shimbun