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Concerns Arise Over Changes in Japanese Fisheries Law Granting Aquaculture Site Access to Corporations"
A recent amendment to Japan's national fisheries law has stirred concerns among members of local fishing cooperatives. The amendment allows corporations access to aquaculture sites under specific circumstances, prompting fears among cooperative members that large businesses may monopolize sites previously reserved for them, potentially reducing their status to mere employees instead of owner-operators.
The "Act on Partial Revision of the Fisheries Law," passed in December 2018 and enacted a year later, aimed to infuse capital into the industry and support the sector's aging workforce by allowing new entrants. However, the amendment also imposed stringent regulations on who could join fishery cooperatives and empowered authorities, such as prefectural governors, to determine whether aquaculture sites were being used "appropriately and effectively." If deemed mismanaged, authorities could grant site use to corporations or individuals instead of cooperatives.
The vague definition of "appropriate and effective" has fueled unease among cooperative members nationwide.
In response to local cooperative leaders' concerns, Hideaki Yamaguchi, the director general of Japan's Fisheries Agency, engaged in an online exchange of opinions with the National Fisheries Youth Federation.
Addressing the concerns, Masahiko Hirako, a member of the federation and a scallop and sea squirt farmer in Japan's northern Iwate Prefecture, emphasized the need for young fishermen to share and utilize vacant fish-farming grounds during the meeting.
To clarify the new rules, the Fisheries Agency released a guide and example cases outlining conditions under which cooperatives might lose access to a site.
Authorities may reassign site rights to corporations when a site hinders other fishermen's activities, harms the marine environment, or leaves an assigned area unused without cause. Additionally, if another use holds potential to increase production and contribute to local fishing industry development, authorities may transfer site rights.
However, if a rights-holder demonstrates "appropriate and effective" site use when applying for renewal, rights should be granted in principle.
Currently, most cases of corporations securing aquaculture rights occur when existing operators cease operations. Although this process offers financial and employment security, cooperative members remain cautious.
The government aims to strike a balance by matching new entrants with available aquaculture grounds and conducting surveys through co-op collaboration to establish future fishing ground plans.
For private companies entering the sector, cooperation with fishery cooperatives has been crucial, particularly in local coordination and facility usage. However, companies have encountered challenges, such as unclear negotiation points and expectations of "cooperation money" from cooperatives.
Prefectures welcoming investment and with responsive cooperative executives are more likely to attract new entrants and expedite aquaculture site operations.
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