The rise in population and individual consumption levels has brought about a marked increase in the world's fish consumption. We have reached the limit for fish takes from the wild, with more than half of the fish needed for 2012 being produced by aquaculture. In future, aquaculture will undoubtedly be our main source of fish. Along with new ideas in aquaculture, the strengthening of fishing industry regulations and larger wild fish catches due to more fertile ocean areas are pressing issues for maintaining a wide variety of natural fish resources.

The accident involving grounding and consequent total loss of a large bulk carrier in 2006 at Kashima Port in Ibaraki Prefecture was the first instance of a decision in which the court held that there had been breach by the charterers of safe port warranty but which was subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. As the essay offers commentary on the case and legal theory as to "safe port, Eit is hoped that Japan, as one of the world's leading maritime states, can enrich deeper discussions on the safe ports issue.

There is a call for capacity development in the maritime field, but as to what kind of capacity opinions differ according to the conditions of the various industries; thus, the result is sometimes a discussion at cross-purposes. Making clear the kind of capacities needed from a fisheries Eperspective on the ocean going back to prehistoric times, in this article I offer examples of the initiatives we are undertaking at the National Fisheries University on the ocean and the importance of the capacity to coordinate its various stakeholders.