The Fisheries Agency announced plans Friday to reduce the number of longline tuna boats by 10 percent to 20 percent in response to tougher international restrictions on catches.
The number of long-range tuna boats will be cut by 50 to 80 boats, down from 390 at present, and that of coastal tuna boats by 40 to 50, down from 349, the agency said. The plan could lead some 1,000 people to lose their jobs and bring about higher tuna prices in Japan.
The agency will receive applications for withdrawals from tuna fishing until the end of March and pay compensation for the scrapping of boats. The maximum compensation per boat could reach ¥100 million.