Japan takes next steps to manage 100% of national waters sustainably

(WASHINGTON – Dec. 4, 2020) The following is a statement from Eric Schwaab, senior vice president of EDF Oceans, on the progress Japan is making to sustainably manage 100% of its national waters:

“Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced yesterday that his country would join with 13 other nations to adopt an ambitious set of actions to sustainably manage 100% of national waters to protect the ocean and solve global challenges.

“We applaud Japan for its commitments and the serious down payments it is already making to achieve these goals. In particular, Japan is currently implementing a new law that represents the most far-reaching reforms to the country’s fishing practices in 70 years.

“And even as I write, Japanese legislators have just enacted another law known as the Domestic Trade of Specific Marine Animals and Plants Act, put forward earlier this year by the Suga Administration. This act creates strong anti-IUU fishing measures that will help put a stop to the scourge of illegal fishing that undermines ocean health around the world. The bill was supported by a broad coalition of Japanese and international NGOs, including EDF.

“Japan’s actions set a strong example for other nations to follow as we seek to sustainably manage 100% of our ocean.”