Asahi Shimbun - Warmer Waters Push Squid Away From Japan; Catches Decline 35%

Rising sea temperatures are pushing Japanese common squid populations toward the Korean Peninsula, leaving Japanese fishermen with dwindling catches and fears for the future of their livelihoods, industry officials said.

Japanese common squid, which account for 80 percent of the domestic squid catch, used to be caught all along the Sea of Japan coast of Honshu for more than half a year. But the squid are now veering away from Japan on their southern migration run, resulting in a shortened fishing season.

According to the Japan Squid Fisheries Association, squid fishermen now must travel long distances to reach remote fishing grounds while competing against an increasing number of Chinese fishing vessels.

The situation has been particularly hard on small boat fishermen. In Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, the number of squid fishing boats has decreased from 101 in 1998 to 16. “Due to the cheap prices of squid, rising fuel prices and global warming, everyone has given up fishing,” said Tadao Katagiri, the 66-year-old head of a local squid fisheries association.

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http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201406180035