The Current Situation of Fukushima’s Fishery – From the Perspective of Fisherman’s Daughter – (Part 2)

I was born and raised in a fisherman family in Iwaki city, Fukushima. After the damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident, and the release of “treated water” from the nuclear power plant in August 2023, I am writing about my current thoughts from the perspective of “fisherman’s daughter”. I left my hometown and took a job related to the fisheries in the capital area of Japan, but now I began living in two places, capital area and Fukushima, driven by the desire to “do something for my hometown Iwaki someday”. As I began my new life, some issues regarding the fisheries in Iwaki and Fukushima became apparent to me.
Following on from Part 1, I would like to talk about “Fukushima’s fishery” as I felt it on site.

Three Issues Facing “Iwaki Fishery” as Seen on Site

A bid at Numanouchi Market. All the bidder writes the price on a paper and the bidder who wrote the highest price buys the item. The scene is calm, yet there is a professional air of tension.

By living in both the capital area and my hometown Iwaki, and by facing Iwaki’s fishery through my family business as a fisherman, I have been able to see some issues. Of course, I know that there is a limit to what I can learn by only going there for a few months. I am sure that the issues facing the fisheries in Iwaki/Fukushima are much deeper and more serious. With full understanding of this, I would like to list three major “issues facing Iwaki’s fishery” that I have felt close to me.

1. Lack of next-generation leaders

The generation that was active and playing a central role in the fishery at the time of the earthquake is now the veteran generation. The next generation, those of them in their 20s to 40s, should be the ones to take on the main role in landing fish from now on, but there is an overwhelming shortage of fishermen of this generation.

2. Difficulty in passing on knowledge and skills

Various external factors forced changes to fishery operations in Iwaki after the Great East Japan Earthquake. This is making it difficult to continue the fishery methods that had been practiced in Iwaki up until now.
Chance and opportunities to learn the job are decreasing: how to use fishing gear such as nets, the characteristics of fishing grounds, and how to manage resources. These knowledge and skills that have been handed down and accumulated from one generation to another may be lost.

3. Changes in the marine environment

Rising sea temperatures, which are now an issue not only in Japan but in the world, are also affecting the seas of Iwaki. Many fishermen have actually told me that fish that were previously caught during the seasons are no longer appearing.
In addition to rising sea temperatures, natural disasters such as heavy rains are also said to be causing a major impact on environmental changes in the coastal seas.

These current situations seem to be one of the reasons why Iwaki’s catch volume has not increased. Looking at the latest Iwaki statistics*, the catch volume as of 2022 is only about 40% of that of 2010 (about 30% in value). Only once fish are landed can the market, distribution, and the local fishery get going. As a production site that is responsible for the “zero to one” of the fisheries, Iwaki’s fishery may not be producing enough. These figures are so unsettling.

To Talk About “Fukushima’s Fishery” in 10- or 100-years’ Time

Big and reliable backs of the fishermen. When they gather on the beach, they are always talking. Fishing is a profession that needs lot of conversation.

When I look at Iwaki’s fishery from the perspective of the “Great East Japan Earthquake”, “nuclear power plant accident”, and the recent “release of treated water”, I am overcome with a sense of anxiety and impatience. On the other hand, when I look at things close to home from the perspective of the “people involved”, rather than such big events, I realised that the issues I had seen did not seem like “walls” but rather like “processes”.
The “process” I am talking about here is the path to the future, which lies ahead on a timeline longer than the time I live. Instead of looking at the issues only in a negative way, try to think of them as “possibilities” that lead to the future. In this way, you will see the facts that:

today, “Fukushima has a fishery”.

There are fisheries in Iwaki/Fukushima today, and it is continuing to exist. This is a “miracle” that fishermen, fisheries workers, and consumers have persevered over the past 13 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Countless “unforeseen” events such as earthquake, tsunami, nuclear damage, treated water releases have hit Fukushima’s coast. What we have now is the result of facing these events without giving up each time. However, there are still many challenges to overcome, and Iwaki/Fukushima has not regained its former vitality. Even so, Fukushima still has the fishery and fishermen continue to live in Iwaki.
Since the people who lived through those times persevere and overcome the issues, we have what we have today. When I think about this, I feel that we, who are here now, must face and overcome the issues and challenges that stand in our way.

What is the future of Iwaki and Fukushima be like over the next 10, 30, or 50 years?
Will Fukushima still be a region with no food shortages 100 years from now?
Will it have overcome the climate crisis?
Will it have become a peaceful future without conflict where we can eat delicious fish?

I hope that in a century, our children and grandchildren will think, “We’re glad that there is a fishery in this region”. To this end, I hope to find more people who give thoughts to Fukushima’s fishery with me and enjoy the “process” as they work.
I want to continue talking about the fishery here for years to come.

*Reference: Iwaki City, “Fishery of Iwaki for 2023” (Japanese)

Translation：Hitomi Momma

JAPANESE PAGE