Japanese government aims to transition coastal fishing villages toward becoming tourism hubs

Many Japanese fishing villages are in economic decline due to persistent low catch totals and rapid aging of their workforce, so in an attempt to revitalize these communities, the Japanese government is promoting marine-related tourism, which it refers to as “umigyo,” or maritime business, in several villages around the country.Poor catch totals have plagued fishing operations targeting several important species in Japan and are mainly related to higher sea surface temperatures that have driven traditional stocks to other locations.Meanwhile, the population in many of the country’s fishing villages has both aged and declined. While over 30 percent of the population of Japan as a whole is now over 65 years old, that total comprises around 40 percent of the residents in small fishing villages. The population of these villages stood at 2.5 million in 2005 but declined to just under 2 million by 2021.By diversifying the economy of these towns through tourism, including via seaside ...