Climate Adaptation in Japanese Fisheries: A Policy Analysis

Abstract

The adverse impacts of climate change on Japanese fisheries have been pronounced since 2010. A literature review overviews climate change impacts on three fisheries sectors: coastal fisheries, aquaculture, and offshore fisheries. Next, this study examines if existing policies in Japan are sufficient to address these impacts. This assessment determines that offshore fisheries that rely on single species need further policy discussion under a scenario where an adversely impacted stock will not recover despite management efforts due to climate change. Finally, this study conducts a policy analysis using data sets for the North Pacific saury fishery. Four policy options are proposed for analysis, i.e., management change, partial permit termination, income support, and diversification. Eight criteria assessed in the analysis are profit gain, impacts on the local community, cost to government, distributive equity, procedural equity, political feasibility, uncertainty, and duration. The result highlights key trade-offs among options, suggesting that diversification and permit termination are most likely to be favorable options.