There is no sign that hydrothermal mineral deposits are being commercialized despite the First Basic Plan on Ocean Policy’s position towards “realizing their commercialization in the next 10 years.” I would like to examine the reason behind this, which is the idea that “high qualities only come in small amounts.” I would also like to bring up issues going forward in developing technology for making best use of the abundant seabed mineral resources in Japan’s EEZ.

As expectations continue to rise towards “fisheries that nurture” over “fisheries that reap,” cutting-edge analysis and diagnostic technologies such as artificial intelligence, next-generation sequencing, metabolome, and electric potential analysis will become important as countermeasures against red tides to promote aquaculture. I would like to introduce the technology used for predicting red tide blooms and the technology based on microbiological data which predicts their end, as well as details about a new method for evaluating environments based on diagnostic charts of fishing ground environments.

Small-scale fisheries in Japan, where family-run operations make up the heart of the sector, are less internationally recognized than large-scale fisheries and fishing companies. Though they face their share of modern-day problems, they also have many advantages. However, they haven’t been able to communicate them to international society, nor are they in a position to take the lead in this field. Japan should actively lead research efforts and initiatives related to small-scale fisheries, and realize the SDGs, starting with SDG14, fulfilling its responsibility as a developed country in the fishing and ocean fields.