319
H.-J. Ceccaldi et al. (eds.), Marine Productivity: Perturbations and Resilience of Socio-ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-13878-7_35, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
1
Introduction
The decreasing number and the increasing age of
fi shermen represent a serious problem in Japan.
There were approximately 500,000 fi shermen in
the 1980s; however, that number has declined to
approximately 200,000 now. According to the
Food and Agriculture Organization, the number
of fi shermen is increasing or leveling off in major
countries other than Japan (Food and Agricultural
Organization of the United Nations 2012 ).
Although the overall mean age of the Japanese
population is increasing (Ministry of Internal
Affair and Communications 2012 ), that among
fi shermen is increasing faster. The portion of aged
fi shermen (≥65 years old) has exceeded 30 %
since 2003 (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries 1975 –2010). So why are fi shermen in
Abstract
The increasing age and decreasing number of fi shermen are a serious
problem in Japan. Principal causes may include the decline of fi shery
catches (probably caused by the decrease in fi sheries resources), the stagnations of fi sh prices (probably related to economic conditions), and the
lack of improvement in work environments for many years. In other words,
the Japanese fi shery is losing its appeal as an occupation because the work
is hard and risky and the profi tability is poor. This study focused on an
investigation of the work environment of the Japanese fi shery and on the
KAIZEN (voluntary improvement by the person(s) concerned) of the fi shery from an ergonomic perspective. Several cases of the small trawl fi shery, a representative of the coastal fi shery in Japan, were investigated to
understand and evaluate their work. All tasks on the boats were video
recorded, and the times required and physical burdens of the main tasks
were evaluated. Through the analyses, a task, namely, fi sh sorting, was
considered to need preferential improvement, and possible solutions were
indicated. Finally, problems and prospects in applying the KAIZEN principle to the fi shery are discussed.
H. Takahashi (*)
National Research Institute of Fisheries Engineering ,
Fisheries Research Agency , 7620-7 Hasaki,
Kamisu-shi , Ibaraki , Japan
e-mail: hideyuki@affrc.go.jp
Reduction and Aging
of the Fishery Work Population
in Japan and the Possibility of Its
Recovery from an Ergonomic
Perspective
Hideyuki Takahashi
H.-J. Ceccaldi et al. (eds.), Marine Productivity: Perturbations and Resilience of Socio-ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-13878-7_35, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
1
Introduction
The decreasing number and the increasing age of
fi shermen represent a serious problem in Japan.
There were approximately 500,000 fi shermen in
the 1980s; however, that number has declined to
approximately 200,000 now. According to the
Food and Agriculture Organization, the number
of fi shermen is increasing or leveling off in major
countries other than Japan (Food and Agricultural
Organization of the United Nations 2012 ).
Although the overall mean age of the Japanese
population is increasing (Ministry of Internal
Affair and Communications 2012 ), that among
fi shermen is increasing faster. The portion of aged
fi shermen (≥65 years old) has exceeded 30 %
since 2003 (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries 1975 –2010). So why are fi shermen in
Abstract
The increasing age and decreasing number of fi shermen are a serious
problem in Japan. Principal causes may include the decline of fi shery
catches (probably caused by the decrease in fi sheries resources), the stagnations of fi sh prices (probably related to economic conditions), and the
lack of improvement in work environments for many years. In other words,
the Japanese fi shery is losing its appeal as an occupation because the work
is hard and risky and the profi tability is poor. This study focused on an
investigation of the work environment of the Japanese fi shery and on the
KAIZEN (voluntary improvement by the person(s) concerned) of the fi shery from an ergonomic perspective. Several cases of the small trawl fi shery, a representative of the coastal fi shery in Japan, were investigated to
understand and evaluate their work. All tasks on the boats were video
recorded, and the times required and physical burdens of the main tasks
were evaluated. Through the analyses, a task, namely, fi sh sorting, was
considered to need preferential improvement, and possible solutions were
indicated. Finally, problems and prospects in applying the KAIZEN principle to the fi shery are discussed.
H. Takahashi (*)
National Research Institute of Fisheries Engineering ,
Fisheries Research Agency , 7620-7 Hasaki,
Kamisu-shi , Ibaraki , Japan
e-mail: hideyuki@affrc.go.jp
Reduction and Aging
of the Fishery Work Population
in Japan and the Possibility of Its
Recovery from an Ergonomic
Perspective
Hideyuki Takahashi