The Basic Plan for Fisheries is reviewed about every five years in accordance with the Basic Act on Fisheries, and a new Basic Plan for Fisheries was approved at a Cabinet meeting in March 2022. The new Plan has three pillars: 1) steady implementation of fisheries resource management while considering changes in marine environments, 2) realization of a growth industry for fisheries while taking into account increasing risks, and 3) progression towards revitalizing fishing villages that support local communities. These will be the focus of developments in fishery policies going forward.

Amid the trend towards decarbonization, changing security conditions, and rising interest towards conserving marine environments, there is an urgent need for Japan to educate and train the workers that will lead next generation marine industries. To achieve the desired scale and diversity of expertise in the workforce, it’s important to broaden the talent pool. In addition, we need doctorates to lead innovation in the industries. As such, the University of Tokyo is currently hosting Kashiwa Ocean Forum, a space for collaboration between industries, academia, and different fields.

In July 2021, the Tokyo Olympics began, and surfing was added for the first time as an Olympic sport, taking place at Tsurigasaki Beach, Chiba Prefecture. If you were to walk along the coast from the Olympic venue, you will immediately reach the neighboring Taito Beach. There, you may see parasurfers among the surfers riding the waves. In this article, I would like to introduce the activities at Taito Beach which are aiming to create an environment where anyone can have fun surfing.