| Japan
is one of the world's foremost fishing nations, accounting
on average for about 8% of the world's catch. In 2000, the
total catch was 4,989,354 tons, ranking third in the world.
The waters off Japan include cold and warm currents in which
fish abound. In 1990, there were 416,000 registered fishing
boats which sailed both on nearby waters and in other fishing
grounds in the Pacific Ocean, the South China Sea, and the
Indian and Atlantic oceans. In 1989, per capita daily consumption
of fish and shellfish was about 198 gm, one of the world's
highest such averages. Annual per capita fish and shellfish
consumption from 1988 to 1990 averaged 72 kg (158.7 lb). In
2000, despite domestic fish production, about $15.5 billion
in fish and shellfish was imported in order to satisfy domestic
demand. Whales
have been prized in Japan as a source of both food and a
variety of byproducts, and Japanese whalers caught 2,769
whales in 1986. Japan ended commercial whaling in 1987,
following the imposition of a worldwide ban on the hunting
of endangered species of whales by the International Whaling
Commission, but announced that it would catch 875 whales
for "research" purposes. The 2000 Japanese whale
catch of over 16,700 toothed whales of various species represented
about 82% of the world's whale catch.
Competition
for overseas fishing privileges has at various times brought
Japan into conflict with Canada over salmon, with the former
USSR over fishing in the Sea of Okhotsk and other Soviet
waters (between 1905 and 1945 Japan had special treaty privileges
in these waters), with the ROK and China over their limitations
on Japanese fishing operations, with Australia over pearl
fishing in the Arafura Sea, with Indonesia over fishing
in what Indonesia regards as inland waters, and with the
United States, especially over fishing in north Pacific
and Alaskan waters. Japan has been adversely affected by
the adoption of the 200 mi fishing zone by the United States
and more than 80 other world nations. Fishing in waters
claimed by the United States (where about 70% of the Japanese
catch originates) or by many other nations now requires
payment of fees and special intergovernmental or private
agreements.
Fish culture
in freshwater pools, as well as in rice paddies, has long
been practiced in Japan. Aquaculture provides an additional1.5
million tons of fish annually. The leading species cultivated
are laver (nori), yesso scallops, Pacific cupped oysters,
and Japanese amberjack. Seaweed culture provides winter
season activity for many fishermen. Pearl culture has for
more than half a century been the foundation of a valuable
export industry.
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