COASTAL FI3KEli:-£ 



1. The coastal fishprios, vnhich irclude production from coastal and Inland waters hut exclude aq'jl- 

 culturo, are the mainstay of the Jacanese fishing industry. They provided about 6"'< percent of the parine 

 products landed in Jaoan Proper in prewar years. Durin,-; 1951-32' these fisherl'^s accounted for an average 

 of ?,S97, 000 metric tons of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, a-d edible seaweed annually. Peak production 

 was 3,261,000 tons in 1953. 



2. Production of the coastal fisheries fron 190? until about 1933 tended upirard. but in more rpcent 

 years it has levelled off and decreased (Figure 3). This tendency, despite sustained fishing efforts, 

 suggests that future increases may not be possible ?/. 



3. In the fluctuations of production, 1935 and to a lesser degree, I936 and igijl are above the 

 general production level. In these years certain pelagic soecies (especially sardines and herring) .were 

 caught In large quantities 2/- 



1+. Fish constitute 7I percent of the coastal production (Table 2). bardin^^s, herring, mackerel. 

 cod, tuna, bonito, sea bream, and flatfish are the chief species (Table 5). Shellfish and other aquatic 

 animals (chiefly crustaceans and octopi) and seaweed are, however. Important contributions to tha Japan- 

 ese food supply (Tables U, 5, and 6). 



S/ The number of fishermen and fishlnf; boats engafed in coastal fishing remained constant up to about 

 19U3> and during the decade 1955-U2 the number of porered boats operating in coastal waters increased 

 The levelling off of production which antedates the reduced operations of these fi";hpri°s during the 

 latter part of World War II (19lili-Ii5) is therefore considered suggestive of full use of coastal re- 

 sources. Some Japanese scientists consider that denletion of resources "f the coastal waters has begun 

 but the evidence Is inconclusive. 



2/ See section on "The Importance of Sardines and Herring in Japanese Fisheries" for further discussion. 



NATURAl nesOURCCS seCTlON «HQ 8CAP 



Figure 3 



H 



