309 
all four islands has continually encountered Soviet intransigence. (See 
enclosed map.) 
[35 150° 165° 
GY a, 
KAMCHATKA iy SEA 
Gitehe BE PENINSULA 
4 
OKHOTSK | 
AKHALIN o" , 
os 
S | 
SOE 
Repent Si 
ries Uruppu Is. 
a5et: Dovbp Peri Es | hee 
1” »— Shikotan Is. 
ie Th Habomai Islands NOR TH | 
~ vViadivostok gf & — HOKKAIDO | 
HONSHU = PACIFIC 
y Tokyo | 
| OCEAN 
ge Osaka » 
> 
30° | N w 
— SS SS SESS | 
135° =a Ee RDe —— = 
Source: Based on material furnished by National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Department of Commerce. 
Both countries attach great importance to their foreign fishery 
operations. The Soviets, concerned by resource depletion from over- 
fishing on what they perceive as Soviet territory, have advocated 
a restrictive fishing policy. This policy has been most harmful to 
the Japanese economy because of the traditional significance of fish 
to the Japanese diet. Ironically, while the Soviet government has in- 
sisted that such a policy is necessary for conservation reasons, it 
has increased its fishing operations near the Japanese coastline. This 
conflict, in addition to the territorial issue, has made the Northwest 
Pacific area a battleground for the ongoing fisheries dispute. As a 
result, safe fishing operations have become a crucial issue to both 
nations. 
