東北の水産業 大胆な改革で沿岸漁業再生を

「水産業復興特区」構想は既得権（漁業権）を持つ地元漁民の反発を食らうでしょう。
復興の目的で「水産業復興特区」を設定するのなら、ついでに東北に中国の経済特別区のようなものを作ったらいかがでしょうか。世界から東北の被災地へ資本を招き入れるのです。
（スラチャイ記）

Rebuild Tohoku fisheries to be better than before
東北の水産業　大胆な改革で沿岸漁業再生を（5月26日付・読売社説）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (May. 27, 2011)

Ports and facilities of Pacific Ocean fisheries in the Tohoku and Kanto regions were severely hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
　東日本大震災で、東北から関東にかけての太平洋岸の水産拠点は大打撃を受けた。

The industry should not simply be restored to its former state. Instead, people and organizations concerned should take the opportunity to incorporate drastic reforms in their rebuilding efforts, creating a revitalization model for the nation's fisheries industry as a whole, which is on the decline due to a graying workforce with a lack of successors.
　この際、単なる復旧ではなく、高齢化や後継者不足などで衰退する全国の水産業の再生モデルとなる改革に取り組むべきである。

In areas hit by huge tsunami, about 320 fishing ports and 20,000 fishing boats were destroyed or seriously damaged. Fish markets, processing facilities and other infrastructure have been almost completely lost in many places. The damage is estimated at about 900 billion yen.
　巨大津波に襲われた地域では、約３２０の漁港、約２万隻の漁船が破損した。魚市場や流通加工施設といった基盤がほとんど失われたケースも目立つ。被害額は約９０００億円にのぼる。

Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture and Ofunato in Iwate Prefecture hosted bonito and tuna fishing boats from all over the country. Reopening of such core ports for offshore and deep-sea commercial fishing is an urgent necessity.
　宮城県・気仙沼や岩手県・大船渡などは、全国からカツオ、マグロ漁船を受け入れている。こうした遠洋、沖合漁業の中核漁港の再開を急ぐ必要がある。

The central and local governments must cooperate closely to accelerate repair work on wharfs and removal of underwater rubble and debris.
　国や地元自治体が連携し、岸壁の修復工事や海中のがれき撤去などを加速すべきだ。

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Change in way of thinking

Reconstruction of coastal fishing is an important subject because many people work in this industry.
　多くの漁業者が従事する沿岸漁業の再建も重要な課題である。

Coastal fishing includes oyster and scallop cultivation, as well as fixed-net fishing of mackerel and sardines, which are mostly small, family-run businesses.
　カキやホタテなどの養殖や、サバやイワシなどを取る定置網漁といった沿岸漁業は、家族単位の零細経営が大半だ。

These businesses were directly hit by the giant tsunami. The loss of boats, equipment and facilities has left many of them unable to operate, and many are even thinking of closing down for good.
　これが大津波の直撃を受け、養殖施設や船を失って廃業を迫られている事例が多い。

If the coastal fishing industry is to recover, a new way of thinking is required.
　こうした沿岸漁業を再興するには、発想の転換が求められる。

To promote the entry of new individuals and companies into the coastal fishing industry, the current system that gives priority in operations to local fisheries cooperatives must be revised.
　個人や企業の新規参入を促すため、地元漁協に優先的な操業を認めている現行制度を見直すべきではないか。

A "fishing industry reconstruction promotion special zone" initiative proposed by the Miyagi prefectural government at a meeting of the government's Reconstruction Design Council is an idea worth considering.
　宮城県が、政府の復興会議で打ち出した「水産業復興特区」構想は、検討に値するアイデアだ。

The Fishery Law and other relevant laws have to be revised, and special zones should be created in quake-hit areas. In the special zones, private companies that catch, process and sell fish and other marine products will be given easy access to fishing rights.
　まず漁業法などの関係法令を改正し、被災地に特区を新設する。特区では、漁獲や加工・販売を手がける民間企業に対し、漁業権の獲得を容易にする。

The system is designed to reconstruct coastal fisheries by introducing the vitality of those formerly outside the fishing industry and also aims to expand employment opportunities for young people.
　外部の活力を導入することで、沿岸漁業を立て直し、若者の雇用拡大にもつなげるのが狙いだ。

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Revise closed nature

Opposition has been voiced against the initiative in some local fisheries cooperatives. Fearing that their rights may be infringed upon, they argue that the good points of fishing villages as communities will be lost.
　この構想に対し、地元漁協の一部には、自らの権利が侵されることを警戒し、「共同体としての漁村の良さが失われてしまう」などと反発する声もある。

However, the closed nature of such communities must change. Otherwise, the decline of coastal fisheries cannot be stopped.
　だが、閉鎖的な体質を改めなければ、沿岸漁業の衰退には歯止めがかかるまい。

They should not adhere to their vested rights but must change their way of thinking to promote the fisheries businesses in their local communities.
　既得権に固執せず、地域の水産業振興に向け、意識を改革すべきだろう。

We hope administrators in the central and local governments and fishermen thoroughly discuss the matter and seek the best solution with an eye toward the future.
　行政と漁業者が将来を見据えて議論を尽くし、解決策を探ってほしい。

What is urgently required now is the wisdom to protect Japan's fish-eating culture and give an impetus to the recovery of the fisheries industry.
日本の魚食文化を守り、水産業の復興に弾みをつける知恵が問われている。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 26, 2011)
（2011年5月26日01時22分 読売新聞）