The Cabinet on Tuesday approved bills that would rewrite the country’s fishery laws for the first time in about 70 years as it seeks to encourage more peop
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved bills that would rewrite the country’s fishery laws for the first time in about 70 years as it seeks to encourage more people to start fish farming and revive the shrinking industry.
Under the envisioned system, prefectural governments will no longer prioritize local fishery operators and cooperatives in granting fishing rights, enabling new firms and others to enter the industry more easily.
The clause will not apply if the existing fishery operators are making full use of their fishing grounds.
“We need to secure highly motivated fishing operators and have them fully exercise their power,” said fisheries minister Takamori Yoshikawa, as the government is worried that Japan may be unable to maintain a stable supply of fishery products due to a decline in the number of people in the industry.
