Program

The United States and Japan are both fishing nations, with annual commercial catch volumes exceeding 4.9 million and 3.6 million metric tons respectively. With neighboring EEZs (exclusive economic zones) and wide-ranging fishing fleets, the U.S. and Japan sometimes share resources and fishing grounds; both countries participate in Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMOs) to jointly manage shared stocks of fish. Both the U.S. and Japan support federal and regional fishery science institutes which in turn provide scientific input for management decisions that are designed to maintain both sustainable, healthy fish populations, and the communities that rely on fishing for their livelihoods. This talk will compare the organizational structure of both Japanese and American federal fishery agencies, and discuss the pressures and challenges facing fisheries scientists and managers. The similarities in approach of both countries outweigh the differences, but contrasting the two can be informative, and serve to build a greater understanding of each country’s perspective.

Since 2003, the Japanese Technical Cooperation has been working on the management of octopus fisheries in Senegal under the slogan of “Fish Less, Earn More” taking into consideration the current state of health of the octopus resources. The most challenging situation is the unavailability of price difference between good and bad quality octopus. A Senegalese octopus is somewhat poor in quality because of the improper handling after they are caught and are seldom exported to Japan where sashimi and sushi are abundant. The sources of octopus in Japan are usually from Morocco and Mauritania. Europe buys Senegalese octopus where they are being cooked in various ways. The behaviors of Senegalese fishers and fish dealers are unchangeable because of the unavailability of price difference. Therefore, to change the traditional way of pricing, add value to octopus, and diversify its export market, we conducted technical demonstration with the fisheries administration and the fishing company. One of the methods used was comparing the octopus caught by pot fishing and handled carefully using ice and plastic bags with an ordinary octopus. The study shows that there was a noticeable difference between the two octopuses in terms of quality as well as in prices offered by the company. We therefore assume that fishers and fish dealers will be able to earn more by improving the quality of octopus. Diversifying export markets is an important strategy since Senegalese economy depends heavily on fishing industry.

As one of output controls which restrict the number of catches, TAC (Total Allowable catch) system has been used since 1997 in Japan. This system, however, is often criticized because setting upper catch limits can cause competitive races for fish. Besides, as catches quotas are allocated to each area based on the past records in Japan, another type of competitions, those for catch quotas in the future can happen. It is difficult to quantify the effects of these two types of competitions because it is unclear what causes them. In this research, we firstly defined the condition where each type of competition would happen. Then, we tried to quantify their effects on catches separately by using Bayesian state-space model, which predicts the Japanese Sardine monthly catches caught by large- and medium-scale purse seine fishery. In this model, these competitions are regarded as reactions to catch quotas, and considered in these models in addition to stock and seasonal variation. Moreover, we also consider the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake. All these variables vary according to the number of stock or time series and are analyzed at the same time by Bayesian estimation. The results indicated the competitions to upper catch limits were not found in any period. The other type of competitions, the reactions to catch quotas in the future contributed some of catches (3,368 tons in 2009, and 2,097 tons in 2010). It is important because if there were no these reactions, catch quotas for next three years would decrease 1.5 % on average. That means more than 15,000 tons decrease as a whole. These reactions are reasonable for all fishers and can happen not only in TAC system, but also in other output control such as IQ (Individual Quota) management.

Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency launched a science outreach activity named SH”U”N Project (Sustainable, Healthy and “Umai” Nippon seafood project). Based on the scientific information on 1) stock status, 2) ecosystem impact, 3) fisheries management, and 4) regional sustainability, as well as 5) health and seafood safety information, the sustainabilities of the Japanese fisheries resources are assessed. The results are reviewed by the External Review Committee, and the public comments are gathered to validate the results. All the data and results of above processes are open to public, and we hope this information will be utilized by fishers’ organization or local government officers to apply to fisheries certification schemes (e.g., MEL-Japan or MSC, etc.) or to develop local fisheries management strategies. For the consumers, a smartphone application software is developed to show the recommendation list of fish species for todays’ dish. Also, consumers can search the fish species, and store their purchase/consumption records. Such data will be utilized by the Agency to understand the research needs and to develop the Agency’s research strategy.

Abstract

The successful of the coastal ecosystem management depends on community perceptions of the ecosystems function. Field observations and in-depth interviews with coastal community were conducted to identify the level of community perception on mangrove ecosystem functions include Blue Carbon and the influence to mangrove existence. We hypothesized that a good preception of coastal community on mangrove functions can mantain and improve the existence of mangrove ecosystem. A number of 137 respondents were chosen through purposive quoted sampling. Data were subjected to quantitative analysis using mixed method and tested by F-test and partial t-test.The results show that the coastal community has a good preception (70%) on mangrove function, while an excellent preception (79%) on the existence of mangrove. The F test statistic shows that the management variables significantly influence the existence of mangrove(p <0,05). The partial test (t test) shows that village and district level regulations, logging restrictions, socialization, and awareness of coastal community (fishermen and general public) on the importance of mangroves are significant variables (p <0.05) on the existence of mangroves.Some efforts still can be done by the community to enhance the management and the existanceof mangrove ecosystem: (1) intensify mangrove planting; (2) recycling household waste; (3) developing mangrove ecotourism; and (4) enhancing the participation of communities, governments, and other stakeholders in integrated mangrove management


Keywords: mangrove, management, community perception, existence

In the aquaculture sector, some researchers have studied the role of women who are involved in the activity, and revealed that they are significant workforce for a region. While in Madagascar, fish farming is typically known as a male activity. Even though rural women in Madagascar expressed their interests in a purpose to improve life condition of their households at a starting point of the fish farming development there. Therefore, this study qualitatively aims to examine the difference in the level of involvement and motivation between men and women.
Three districts in Boeny region, North Western of Madagascar, were targeted since there are a number of male fish farmers. The research focused on the producers of juvenile tilapia as well as grow-out fish farmers’ households. Field observations and interviews by a snowball sampling technique were utilized to obtain data.
Generally, fish farming is not the main source of income for the rural households in the targeted districts. It is still in a small-scale and as a family business. Also, the results revealed that men and women are surely both involved but at different degrees. Men are the main person in charge of heavy duties such as pond digging and decision-making. Women, on the other hand, have supporting roles particularly when their husbands are absent. Both men and women can do harvesting and sampling. Moreover, when it comes to motivation, for example, obtaining technical knowledge and the desire to increase income drive men to be involved. In contrast, love, self-satisfaction and pleasure motivate women.
There is a certain gap in the level of involvement to fish farming between men and women in the study areas. However, women’s low involvement is not caused by the lack of motivation. Possible obstacles may hinder women’s involvement in fish farming.

Koto Panjang Reservoir' cultural service is the non-material benefits obtained by humans from the Koto Panjang Reservoir ecosystem. The value of cultural services calculated in the Koto Panjang Reservoir is tourism. This study aims to generate economic value of cultural services in Koto Panjang Reservoir. This research was conducted during the month of January 2015 - July 2015. The method used is survey method by using primary and secondary data. The analytical method used to calculate the economic value of cultural services in Koto Panjang Reservoir uses the travel cost method (TCM). The result of this research get consumer surplus value Rp 3,937,666,73 per individual per year while economic value of cultural services from Koto Panjang Reservoir ecosystem is Rp 258.704.704
Keywords: Cultural services, reservoir ecosystem, tourism, travel cost method (TCM)

It has been a trend worldwide that traditional fisheries have needed to diversify into developing tourism in response to its decreasing ability to generate income as a result of declining resources and the rise in operating costs. In Taiwan, a fisheries transformation policy has been initiated in early 1990s to have traditional fisheries embrace tourism as a way of earning alternative income. This policy has generated a number of recreational activities for public participation, including recreational fishing, whalewatching, lagoon cruising, fishing harbor recreation and tours to local fishing villages to experience fisher’s life. These diverse activities, collectively called as leisure fisheries, have become one of major service products catering to the booming tourism market in Taiwan.
This research aims to establish an integrated information network of leisure fisheries in order to facilitate peoples’ participation in various fisheries-related recreational activities, increase their market penetration, and enhance peoples’ understanding and appreciation of the marine environment. Based on the document analysis and interviews with operators and customers, the information that needs to be constructed in the network was gathered and categorized. A follow-up survey was conducted to prioritize various types of information based on their importance perceived by a panel of experts. Results showed that recreational types based on geographic locations, business information of operators, environmental education (i.e., information on catch species, tidal waves and maritime whether), safety, management measures, packaged tours, among others, were perceived important. By using website tools, an integrated information network was established based on the results. This network can serve as a major portal to leisure fisheries.