Japan's fishing industry, one of the largest in the world, will stage a mass strike Tuesday in protest at soaring fuel costs, part of a global backlash against surging oil prices. Some 200,000 fishing boats will cancel their trips for one day to urge the government for help to ease the impact of the fuel price hikes, a move that could hit the country's myriad sushi and seafood restaurants.
"Many fishermen cannot make ends meet. The industry as a whole is falling apart," said an official with the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations. "We are asking for emergency measures from the government, just for one or two years, to help us pull through this difficult period," he said. Fuel now accounts for as much as half of the fishermen's operating costs, compared with just 10 percent a few years ago, he said.
Roughly 3,000 fishermen from all corners of Japan are going to gather in downtown Tokyo on Tuesday for a rally and a march to demand state subsidies to help the struggling industry.
"We are seeing situations where fishermen make losses by going fishing. Because their catches go through auctions, fishermen themselves cannot pass on the increased cost to consumers," the official said. The federation groups about 1,000 fishery cooperatives and almost all of the fishermen in Japan, which has one of the world's largest fishing industries but virtually no natural energy resources.
Thousands of fishing boats are already sitting idle at port because fishermen cannot afford fuel. The Japanese government, however, has been lukewarm about giving special assistance to fishermen.
Agriculture Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi told reporters Friday that he understood the frustration of fishermen, but also asked them to minimise the disruption of food supplies. He added that all industries and many small businesses are feeling the pinch from the increased fuel cost, and that the government cannot give special treatment only to fishermen.
"The government is studying thorough measures to deal with the issue. But it is extremely difficult to give direct subsidies to offset the effect of the rising oil prices," Wakabayashi told reporters. Oil prices have doubled over the past year and are up five-fold since 2003, hitting record heights above 147 dollars a barrel last week.
Some fishermen have already begun their strike to try to draw attention to their plight, according to local authorities. Squid fishermen went on a two-day strike last month.
"The industry is already having difficulty recruiting young people to become fishermen. Younger people tend to leave their ships and look for different jobs because they cannot earn sustainable income," the federation official said. "The fishing industry includes wholesalers, fish stores and truckers and creates jobs for many, many other people. We must maintain this industry which provides vital food resources to the Japanese people," he said.