APPENDIX IV APPENDIX IV 
JAPAN 
PRESENT SITUATION AND TRENDS IN THE 
JAPANESE FISHING INDUSTRY 
Japan's 974 fish catch of 2323 billion pounds, a’ 16 
percent increase over 1970, was the largest in its history. 
The value of the catch increased 81 percent from $3.2 
billion in 1970 to $5.8 billiom in 1974 “but, because’ of 
spiraling costs, increased foreign competition, slackened 
demand, and other factors, the profitability of Japan's 
fishing industries has plummeted. The net profit of small 
fishing companies on sales decreased from an average of 8.4 
percent in 1973 to 2.6 percent in 1974. The medium and 
large size companies lost money in 1974, with the large 
companies having average losses of $5 million. 
Japan's heavy reliance on offshore and distant water 
fishing is shown by the following table. 
1974 production 
Percentror 
Type of fishery Quantity (note a) total 
eogerat fisheries Ay e220. 6 Ij/ee 
Offshore fisheries hips AeA ene) SiGig J 
Distant water fisheries Siletiome SG 
Inland water fisheries 
and cultures 394.6 he 7 
Marine cultures 1,940.0 Spee 
Total 223) pho 2 100.0 
“Expressed in millions of pounds. 
Japan categorizes its marine fisheries by vessel size 
and trip duration. Coastal fisheries include (1) firms 
without boats and (2) firms using vessels of less than 10 
gross registered tons which leave and return to port within 
24 hours. Offshore fisheries include firms using vessels 
from 10 to 1,000 gross tons, except those vessels making 
trips of 7 days or more, which are categorized as distant 
water fisheries (generally 20 gross tons or more). The 
308 
