Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Baseline assessment of total fisheries-related biomass removal from Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zones: 1950–2010

  • Original Article
  • Fisheries
  • Published:
Fisheries Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The rise and fall of Japan’s marine fisheries have been well documented and are clearly evident in official landings statistics. However, the extent of illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries, including recreational fisheries, and the discarding of unwanted catch in Japanese waters, both of which may have significant implications on the success of management regimes, have yet to be closely examined. This study reassessed the impact of fisheries on the marine ecosystems of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) by estimating the total marine biomass removed through the use of an established catch reconstruction approach. Since 1950, 368 million t of marine biomass have been extracted from the Japanese EEZ as commercial catch, recreational catch, illegal catch and discards. Commercial catch accounted for 87 % of the total, while discards accounted for an additional 8 %. The disparity between the estimated biomass removals and the reported commercial catch is 48 million t, or 15 % of the reported catch. The difference is not as large as observed in similar studies of other regions. Nonetheless, the reconstructed biomass removals represent a better baseline for the management of fisheries in the Japanese EEZ, particularly if Japan is to move forward with implementation of output control management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Garibaldi L (2012) The FAO global capture production database: a six-decade effort to catch the trend. Mar Policy 36:760–768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jacquet J, Fox H, Motta H, Ngusaru A, Zeller D (2010) Few data but many fish: marine small scale fisheries catches for Mozambique and Tanzania. Afr J Mar Sci 32:197–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Le Manach F, Gough C, Harris A, Humber F, Harper S, Zeller D (2012) Unreported fishing, hungry people and political turmoil: the recipe for a food security crisis in Madagascar? Mar Policy 36:218–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wielgus J, Zeller D, Caicedo-Herrera D, Sumaila R (2009) Estimation of fisheries removals and primary economic impact of the small-scale and industrial marine fisheries in Colombia. Mar Policy 34:506–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Zeller D, Booth S, Craig P, Pauly D (2006) Reconstruction of coral reef fisheries catches in American Samoa, 1950–2002. Coral Reefs 25:144–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Zeller D, Booth S, Davis G, Pauly D (2007) Re-estimation of small-scale fisheries catches for US flag island areas in the western Pacific: the last 50 years. Fish Bull 105:266–277

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zeller D, Booth S, Pakhomov E, Swartz W, Pauly D (2011) Arctic fisheries catches in Russia, USA, and Canada: baselines for neglected ecosystems. Polar Biol 34:955–973

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Zeller D, Rossing P, Harper S, Persson L, Booth S, Pauly D (2011) The Baltic Sea: estimates of total fisheries removals 1950–2007. Fish Res 108:356–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Agnew DJ, Pearce J, Pramod G, Peatman T, Watson R, Beddington JR, Pitcher TJ (2009) Estimating the worldwide extent of illegal fishing. PLoS One 4:e4570

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Coleman FC, Figueira WF, Ueland JS, Crowder LB (2004) The impact of United States recreational fisheries on marine fish populations. Science 305:1958–1960

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Zeller D, Darcy M, Booth S, Lowe MK, Martell S (2008) What about recreational catch?: potential impact on stock assessment for Hawaii’s bottomfish fisheris. Fish Res 91:88–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kelleher K (2005) Discards in the world’s marine fisheries: an update. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 470. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ricker WE (1975) Computation and interpretation of biological statistics of fish populations. Bull Fish Res Board Can 191:1–382

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hilborn R, Walters CJ (1992) Quantitative fisheries stock assessment: choice, dynamics and uncertainty. Chapman and Hall, New York, p 570

    Book  Google Scholar 

  15. FAO (2012) The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2012. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pauly D (1998) Rationale for reconstructing catch time series. EC Fish Coop Bull 11:4–7

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cisneros-Montemayor AM, Cisneros-Mata MA, Harper S, Pauly D (2013) Extent and implications of IUU catch in Mexico’s marine fisheries. Mar Policy 39:283–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ulman A, Bekişoğlu Ş, Zengin M, Knudsen S, Ünal V, Mathews C, Harper S, Zeller D, Pauly D (2013) From bonito to anchovy: a reconstruction of Turkey’s marine fisheries catches (1950–2010). Mediterr Mar Sci 14:309–342

    Google Scholar 

  19. Tesfamichael D, Pauly D (2011) Learning from the past for future policy: approaches to time series catch data reconstruction. West Indian Ocean J Mar Sci 10:99–106

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zeller D, Pauly D (2007) Reconstruction of marine fisheries catches by countries and regions (1950–2005). Fisheries Centre Research Reports 15(2). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 18

  21. MAFF, JAPAN (2004–2011) Heisei 15-22 Gyogyo Yoshokugyo Seisan Tokei [2003–2010 Fisheries and Aquaculture Production Statistics, in Japanese]. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo

  22. JFA (ed) (1998) Suisancho 50 Nenshi [50 years of Japan Fisheries Agency: in Japanese]. Suisancho 50 Nenshi Henshu Iinkai, Tokyo

  23. MAFF, JAPAN (2013) Heisei 24 Gyogyo Shushoku Doukou Tokei Nenpo [2013 Annual Statistics Report on the Trends in Fisheries Employment, in Japanese]. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo

  24. MAFF, JAPAN (2013) Heisei 23 Nendo Shokuryo Jyukyuhyo [2011 Food Balance Sheet, in Japanese]. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo

  25. JFA (1993–2012) Heisei 1-22Suisan Hakusho [1991-2010 Fisheries Whitepaper, in Japanese]. Japan Fisheries Agency, Tokyo

  26. Nakajima K (1998) Nisso gyogyo kannkei no henka [Changes in the Japan-USSR fisheries relations]. In: JFA (ed) Suisancho 50 Nenshi [50 years of Japan fisheries agency: in Japanese]. Suisancho 50 Nenshi Henshu Iinkai, Tokyo

  27. FAO (2011) FishStatJ: Universal software for fishery statistical time series. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Statistics and Information Service

  28. JFA (2010) Nihonkai oki beni zuwaigani shigen kaifuku keikaku [Sea of Japan snow crab stock recovery plan, in Japanese]. Japan Fisheries Agency, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  29. JCG (2011) 2011 Kaijyo Hoan Report [2011 Coast Guard Report, in Japanese]. Japan Coast Guard, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  30. JCG (2009) 2009 Kaijyo Hoan Report [2009 Coast Guard Report, in Japanese]. Japan Coast Guard, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  31. JCG (2010) 2010 Kaijyo Hoan Report [2010 Coast Guard Report, in Japanese]. Japan Coast Guard, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  32. Nihonkai Shimbun (2010) Kankoku gyosen no ihou gyogu kaishu: Tsushima no gyogyosha ikari arawa [Illegal gears of Korean fleet recovered, Tsushima fishermen in anger: in Japanese]. Nihonkai Shimbun

  33. JCG (1950–1997) Kaijo Hoan Tokei Nenpo [Annual Statistical Report of Japan Coast Guard: in Japanese]. Japan Coast Guard, Tokyo

  34. MAFF, JAPAN (2003) YugyoS Saishokuryo Chosa Hokokusho [Survey Report on Recreational Fisheries Catch, in Japanese]. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  35. MAFF, JAPAN (2008) Yugyo saihoryo chosa hokokusho [Recreational Fishing Catch Volume Survey Report: in Japanese]. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery. Tokyo

  36. Matsuoka T (1996) Discards in Japanese marine capture fisheries and their estimation. In: Clucas IJ, James D (eds) Report on the technical consultation on reduction of wastage in fisheries. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  37. Hirai Y, Nishinokubi H (2004) Bycatch and discards of marketable species for small-scale trawler in Ariake Sea. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 70:738–744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Akiyama K (1997) Discarded catch of set-net fisheries in Tateyama Bay. J Tokyo Univ Fish 84:53–64

    Google Scholar 

  39. Kojima T, Sugiyama Y, Watanabe D, Yamasaki J, Hasegawa M, Omiya Y, Matsuoka T (2007) Discard and catch trends at the Akazawa set-net east of the Izu Peninsula. Mem Fac Fish Kagoshima Univ 56:31–35

    Google Scholar 

  40. JCG (2012) 2012 Kaijyo Hoan Report [2012 Coast Guard Report, in Japanese]. Japan Coast Guard, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  41. Kishita, T (1998) Gyokaku kano ryo (TAC) seido no jisshi [Implementation of the Total Allowable Catch scheme, in Japanese]. In: JFA (ed) Suisancho 50 Nenshi [50 Years of Japan Fisheries Agency: in Japanese]. Suisancho 50 Nenshi Henshu Iinkai. Tokyo, Japan

  42. Makino M (2009) A short review of IQs/ITQs in foreign countries and a perspective for introduction of IQ/ITQ to the Japanese fisheries. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 75:1087–1088

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Yagi N, Clark ML, Anderson LG, Arnason R, Metzner R (2011) Applicability of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) in Japanese fisheries: a comparison of rights-based fisheries management in Iceland, Japan, and United States. Mar Policy 36:241–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Keita Abe and Kento Ito of the Hokkaido University for their assistance in the data collection. WS gratefully acknowledges support and funding from the Nippon Foundation through the Nereus Program Fellowship. This work was conducted in partnership with the Sea Around Us Project, a scientific collaboration between the University of British Columbia and the Pew Environment Group.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Wilf Swartz

  2. Center for Sustainability Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

    Gakushi Ishimura

Authors
  1. Wilf Swartz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gakushi Ishimura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wilf Swartz.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

12562_2014_754_MOESM1_ESM.xlsx

Online Resource 1 Reported discard rates. Online Resource 2 Reconstructed catches in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zones by species (1950–2010). Online Resource 3 Reconstructed catches in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zones by fisheries type (1950–2010) (XLSX 64 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Swartz, W., Ishimura, G. Baseline assessment of total fisheries-related biomass removal from Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zones: 1950–2010. Fish Sci 80, 643–651 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-014-0754-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-014-0754-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation