The Structure of Small-Scale Fisheries in Noto-Jima Island, Northcentral Japan: A Livelihood Portfolio Approach

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  • Matsui Ayumu
    Graduate student, School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University JSPS Research Fellow

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  • 石川県能登島における生業組み合わせからみた漁家漁業の存立構造
  • イシカワケン ノトトウ ニ オケル ナリワイ クミアワセ カラ ミタ ギョカ ギョギョウ ノ ソンリツ コウゾウ

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Abstract

<p>According to the 2013 Fisheries Census in Japan, the ratio of part-time fishery households was 50.3%. In other words, more than half of the fishery households in Japan have jobs other than fishing. This study explores the structure of local small-scale fisheries in Japan through the lens of the livelihood portfolios of fishery households. The study area was Noto-Jima Island, located at the Noto peninsula, northcentral Japan. Noto-Jima Island is surrounded by a closed inner bay. The morphology of the bay means that the fishing grounds are calm and many types of fisheries can be operated throughout the year. Therefore, the fishing households operate diverse fisheries that reflect their specific household strategies. Furthermore, multimodal economic activities, such as agriculture, paid work, and tourism, are combined within these households. Thus, each household has developed diversified labor force allocations within the household. Consequently, our findings revealed that social, natural, and cultural conditions, such as ocean conditions, geographical features, norms, and working conditions, affect the decision-making process in every household. Based on the above, we conclude that small-scale fisheries in the study area rely on dynamic relationships between natural, social, and cultural elements, in addition to the fishery conditions themselves. Furthermore, it will be difficult to sustain the current structure of the local small-scale fisheries because of challenges, such as aging of the fishermen and/or changes in the working conditions of future generations. Under these circumstances, the findings of this study suggest that comprehensive management based upon the premise of diverse livelihood portfolios will be effective for sustaining local small-scale fisheries.</p>

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