Ice-bound Sea Of Tranquility

摘要

In December, the Sea-of-Okhotsk coast of northeastern Hokkaido — the northernmost major island of Japan — is enveloped in an ever more rigorous cold as northwesterly seasonal winds mingled with snow bear down almost every day. All small fishing boats based at ports in the area are pulled ashore, while larger oceangoing trawlers are moved to harbors on the Sea of Japan or Pacific coasts to avoid being caught in the drift ice threatening the region. The hustle-bustle of the ports facing the Sea of Okhotsk is replaced by tranquili-ty as local fishermen suspend operations until resumption of fishing the following March.