INACTIVE Japan Tokyo Bay sea perch - purse seine

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Reason for Inactivity
  • Missed deadline for three year audit report
  • Lack of funding
  • At FIP's request

Overview

Tokyo Bay is one of the leading commercial and recreational fishing regions in Japan for Japanese sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus), a historically and culturally important fish used for edomae sushi, the style of sushi created during the late Edo-period (late 19th century) that influenced the nigiri sushi that is common today.

While archaeological sites show that species such as sea perch were consumed in the Tokyo Bay region as far back as 300 BC, commercial sea perch fishing in Tokyo Bay expanded during the Edo Period (1600-1850s) with new technology, gear, and techniques to match growing demand. The present-day mid-scale purse seine commercial sea perch fishery is permitted by the Chiba Prefecture government, and the majority of the sea perch purse seine vessels fishing in Tokyo Bay are managed by the Funabashi Fisheries Cooperative. While fishing is permitted year-round, peak season is during the summer.

Purse seine vessels which are participants of the Tokyo Bay Sea Perch FIP are significant players in the region’s industry and account for 10-15% of the total Chiba Prefecture sea perch catch. These fishermen, led by FIP client company Kaiko Bussan, abide by voluntary conservation practices including setting non-fishing days during spawning season and limiting soak times. While the local fishery research agency in Chiba prefecture conducts stock evaluations, prefecture-wide science-based fishery management plans and objectives are lacking, which increases the risk of overfishing and stock depletion. Specific deficiencies include the lack of harvest control rules used to reduce harvest when stock abundance is declining and the lack of fishery reference points based on maximum sustainable yield (MSY) or another appropriate proxy. In addition, the formal decision-making process is not very transparent and inclusive of stakeholders.

The Tokyo Bay Sea Perch FIP will increase the scientific understanding of the fishery, its effects and sea perch stocks, improve fish management practices, work to maintain overall sea perch stock abundance in Tokyo Bay, and distinguish the sea perch fishery in the growing sustainable seafood marketplace..

FIPプロフィールレポート

FIP Description 

Tokyo Bay is one of the leading commercial and recreational fishing regions in Japan for Japanese sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus), a historically and culturally important fish used for edomae sushi, the style of sushi created during the

FIP Objective(s) 

Improve sea perch fish management and ensure stock abundance by December 2023.

FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 5: Improvements on the Water
Start and Projected End Dates
November 2016
December 2023
Update 
Update December 2021: Stakeholders of Japan Tokyo Bay Sea Perch Purse Seine FIP have decided to extend the target end date of their FIP to December 2023. The main reason for this extension is due to developments in the newly devised national fisheries resource management system (referred to as "New Resource Management Roadmap") as part of the revised national Fisheries Act that began implementation in 2020 and the implication that will have on resource management of Tokyo Bay sea perch. Resource management and stock assessment had been conducted at the prefectural level for sea perch before the amendment of Fisheries Act. Sea perch has been included as a target species that will require update in how resource management/stock assessment will be conducted. By extending the projected end date, the FIP stakeholders are planning to work with the Fisheries Cooperative Association, prefectural government and relevant research institutes to provide insight on the how sea perch should be managed based on word done through the FIP.
Next Progress Report Due 
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Last Independent Evaluation 
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Species 
Common Name 
White Perch
Scientific Name
Lateolabrax japonicus
Gear Type 
Purse Seine
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 61 (Pacific, Northwest)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Japan
Geographic Scope 
Tokyo Bay
Country Flag of Vessel 
Japan
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
110 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
150 metric tons
Landings Date 
November 2021
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FIP Leads

Organization Name 
UMITO Partners Inc.
Organization Type 
Consultant
Primary Contact 
Shunji Murakami
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
2191