The good news for Japan's fisheries is that some of its products enjoy growing demand abroad, particularly in some parts of Asia. This year's government white paper on fisheries stresses the importance of developing overseas markets and highlights a variety of export-oriented initiatives across the country.
The bad news is that the fishing industry, like agriculture and forestry, is plagued by the steady rise in the number of elderly workers. The number of fishery businesses continues to decline, while small coastal fishermen are having a hard time trying to make ends meet.
Still, fishery products remain a major source of protein for the Japanese people, accounting for 20 percent of the population's overall protein consumption and 40 percent of its animal protein intake. Per capita, Japan is one of the world's largest consumers of fishery products.