What is Marine Day, a national holiday, for? If the day is meant for us to express our gratitude for the benefits of the ocean and wish for the prosperity of Japan, which is surrounded by the ocean, we should take a new look more seriously at the future of Japan as an oceanic country. The national government should reconsider its recent negligent attitude toward the ocean, position its ocean policy as its important issue, and establish a system to promote this.
Selected Papers No.7(p.10)

More than 20 years have passed since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and there have arisen many controversies that could not be considered at the time of the adoption of the convention. One of the typical examples would be an issue of the jurisdiction related to genetic resources at the deep-sea floor. Now various challenging discussions closely affecting the national maritime interests are expanding. These discussions are in response to the world's growing concern particularly about tackling with recent environmental problems, and are casting vigorous arguments against the principle of the convention, even though an international customary standard has been consolidated. .

As an oceanic country, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is expected to make a comprehensive use of various administrative functions to contribute to and take the lead in the world's oceans in the light of the concept of integrated coastal zone management, which is the worldwide trend.

Japan's fisheries face growing difficulties. The Fisheries Agency enacted the Basic Law on Fisheries Policy in June 2001, and formulated the Basic Plan for Fisheries Policy based on that law in pursuit of the stable supply of marine products for Japanese people, and of the sound development of fisheries, including processing and distribution sectors, with living aquatic resources ensured for sustainable utilization.