Problems with the operation and management of Japanese fishing boats in the fishing grounds around the Senkaku Islands, with a focus on the pole-and-line fishing of groundfish

摘要

Problems have arisen not only between Japan and China but also between Japan and Taiwan over the Senkaku Islands. Under these circumstances, there are fishermen operating around the Senkaku Islands. In this paper, putting a focus on pole-and-line fishing boats for groundfish that belong to the Hinoshima Fishermen's Cooperative in Kumamoto Prefecture and the Ibusuki Fishermen's Cooperative in Kagoshima Prefecture, this paper discusses the utilization of fishing grounds and the forms of operation, clarifies the relationship between Chinese fishing boats and Chinese government vessels, and analyzes the problems these Japanese fishermen face in operations and management.The results of the analysis are as follows.(1)The deployment of Chinese government vessels makes it almost impossible for ships of less than 5 tons from Okinawa Prefecture to operate. (2) Therefore, there is currently no competition between the fishing boats of Kyushu and Okinawa in the fishing grounds of the Senkaku Islands. (3) Chinese government vessels are deployed mainly in the waters surrounding Uotsuri Island and utilization of the Senkaku fishing grounds tends to concentrate in the territorial seas ofTaisho Island.As a result of the deteriorating functioning of the Japan-China fishery pact and the conclusion of the Japan-Taiwan fishery pact, confusion in Japanese fishing operations is growing more serious.