salmon gill net. Photo: Maruha Nichiro
Japanese cannot fish for salmon and trout. Negotiations between Japan and Russia stalled
JAPAN
Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 07:00 (GMT + 9)
The ban on salmon and trout driftnet fishing within 200 nautical miles in Japan was scheduled to be lifted on the 10th, but due to the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fisheries negotiations between the Japanese and Russian governments were not were carried out, and the fishermen were unable to go fishing.
In the average year, a small salmon and trout fishing boat going out for white salmon and pink salmon raises a large fishing flag and the Hinomaru and waits for midnight on the 10th as "late now". However, this year there are no salmon and trout fishing boats at the dock, and they are still ashore outside the fishing port.
The reason why fisheries negotiations with Russia are necessary to operate within 200 nautical miles of Japan is due to "mogawa nationalism", which has jurisdiction over the country where the river originates. From early spring to early summer, it is said that more than 90% of salmon migrating to Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) were born in Russian rivers. Since 1992, fishing for small salmon and trout within 200 nautical miles in Japan has also been carried out by paying the fisheries cooperation fee to the Russian side.
As a general rule, operating conditions, such as fisheries cooperation costs and catch quotas, have been decided in pre-operation fisheries negotiations each spring. The online conference has been held for the past two years due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, but it is not even scheduled to be held this year. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is blocking fishing in Japan, which is far from the battlefield.
Fisheries Agency Secretary Takashi Kamiya responded at the House of Councilors Budget Committee on March 7 that he would "coordinate to conduct negotiations," but from the Russian side said there was no positive response. Yutaka Sugawara, managing director of the Pacific Sake and Masu Fisheries Association (Sapporo City), said: "I'm nervous because I don't have any information, but I want them to negotiate early. If they miss the fishing season, the fish will disappear." .
There are reports that adjustments are being made to negotiate, but even if negotiations are entered into, the other party is Russia, which has designated Japan as a "hostile country." The government is also asking diplomats from the Russian embassy in Japan to leave the country on the 8th. Under these circumstances, some skeptics say: "Is it possible to open fisheries negotiations?" It is not even possible to predict if it will arrive in time for the peak fishing season at the end of April.
Salmon and trout fishing has been without fishing for several years. The small boats that operated last year also did not have a satisfactory catch. The number of small boats was 172 at its peak, but this year only 19 boats, 12 fewer than last year, are scheduled to go fishing.
Source: Mainichi Shimbun (translated from the original in Japanese)
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