【Explanations】
Due to the growth of population and the rising in health awareness across the world, the global demand for fishery products has been rising, and they continue to be one of the important sources of protein for the mankind. Therefore, sustainable use of fishery resources in all the waters, including EEZs and the high seas, has come to be of greater importance than ever before.
In order to realize it, it is required for all the distant water fishing nations and the coastal countries around the world to appropriately manage/conserve and sustainably use the fishery resources in a responsible manner, including through bilateral consultations and/or consultations within multilateral frameworks.
However, it should be noted that there are cases where the interests of respective countries and groups conflict each other, or influences of the environmental sectors on these consultations have increased, making decision-making process for sustainable use to be increasingly complicated and difficult.
Recognizing the afore-mentioned situations, OFCF Japan will endeavor to promote and reinforce mutually beneficial and reliable relationships through its efforts to:
- accurately understand the present situation and needs of the coastal countries and international organizations concerned on the fishery development and/or sustainable use of the fishery resources, and
- implement activities of cooperation/support in a flexible manner with due consideration of the respective cases.
Also, sustainability on the fisheries cannot be achieved without conservation of the global environment, especially the marine environment. Engraving the sense of appreciation towards the earth and the ocean in its heart, and aspiring to contribute to the realization of sustainable fisheries under the harmony of economic development and global environmental conservation, OFCF Japan will promote activities which will contribute to prevention of global warming and realization of an ecosystem-considered sustainable society.