Ecosystem-based fisheries management for the
Asia-Pacific
Introduction of the
SH”U”N Project
(Sustainable, H
ealthy and “
U
mai”
Nippon seafood)
A science outreach to fisheries sector and consumers
Japan Fisheries Research & Education Agency (FRA)
Science outreach project by our Agency
Facilitating ecosystem-based fisheries and responsible consumptions in Japan
Global Pattern of Marine Biodiversity
Industrial Structure of Fisheries
(FAO 1999)Country # of Fishers # of Vessels SSF ratio
Iceland 6,300 826 0.63
Norway 22,916 8,664 0.89
Denmark 4,792 4,285 0.86
UK 19,044 9,562 0.82
France 26,113 6,586 0.78
Canada 84,775 18,280 0.74
NZ 2,227 1,375 0.74
Spain 75,434 15,243 0.76
USA C.A. 290,000 27,200 0.53
Korea 180,649 50,398 0.9
Japan 278,200 219,466 0.98
AU 13,500 C.A. 5,000 N.A.
Fishing ports and villages in Japan
Redrawn from Marine Cadastre (http://www.kaiyoudaichou.go.jp/KaiyowebGIS/)
There are 2866 Fishing Ports (FY2016), 6298
Fishing Villages (FY2013) along the coast line.
Necessity of Co-Management in Japan
Co-Management with local fishers is the realistic
solution. So, scientific information to facilitate
co-management is important.
(All the Asia-Pacific countries are the same)
Top-down, command-and-control types of
measures are difficult to implement.
A lot of Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) are catching
high diversity of species and landing at various
In order to promote the ecosystem-based fisheries in Japan, Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) started the science outreach project.
It is not for the Top-down, Command-and-Control
approach. But for facilitation of the co-management. (i.e., sharing the management responsibility and authority with local fishers).
Named SH“U”N Project. SHUN stands for Sustainable,
Healthy and “Umai (tasty)” Nippon (Japanese) seafood. At
the same time, “shun” literally means “the best season for
Fish are born and grow up in the sea and caught by fishers, then processed and distributed on land, and finally eaten as seafood:
“fisheries social-ecological systems”.
The thick, robust and smooth interactions within fisheries social- ecological systems are important for sustainable fisheries.
Evaluation reports (sorry, still Japanese only)
In the report, you can see all the assessment, data, data sources, and evaluation scores (from 1 to 5).
For the moment, we have finished 4 stocks
Chub mackerel (Pacific stock), Japanese Sardine (Pacific stock), Japanese Jack Mackerel (Pacific Stock) and
Small-scale sillago (Ohita stock)
50 more species will be assessed until the Tokyo Olympic Game in 2020.
Conclusion
In order to facilitate the ecosystem-based fisheries in the Asia Pacific region, co-management approach is important (not the Top-Down, Command-and-Control approach)
We hope the scientific information by the SH“U”N project
will be utilized by local fishers and their organizations to assess/improve their own management measures.
Also, using this information, they can easily apply to the
fisheries eco-labels such as MEL-Japan, MSC, etc.
By the Tokyo Olympic, 50 more species will be added.
The concept of the “resources” in SH“U”N project
Zimmermann (1933) said “Resources are highly dynamic
functional concepts; they are not, they become, they evolve out
of the triune interaction of nature, man, and culture…”
FISHWATCH program is a model
Chub mackerel
Stock 3.7
Ecosystem 3.6
Management 4.6
Community 4.1
Jack mackerel
Stock 4.2
Ecosystem 3.5
Management 4.7
Community 4.0
Sardine
Stock 4.6
Ecosystem 3.5
Management 4.7
Community 3.8
Small-scale sillago
Stock 1.6
Ecosystem 3.6
Management 1.5
SHUN ロ 評価対象種 2016.10.07
SHUN ロ 評価対象種 2016.10.07
Fisheries eco-labels in Japan
Fisheries section of supermarkets
Several packages with MSC or ASC logo
Items with these logos have been increased in number.
Consumers don't know the meaning of the logo.
These eco-label systems
are based on "Top-down, command-and-control types of management" philosophy.
don't fit well with Japanese Fisheries in some case.
can not fully evaluate co-management of SSF.
Outreach program for evaluating the
