In Focus: Salmon disappearing as Japan's catch just 3% of 2003 peak

Nikkei Asia · Staff Writer · 2026-11-06 04:29 UTC

Despite hardships, fishing community continues to find ways to live with the sea

ABASHIRI/SHIBETSU, Japan -- Salmon catches in Hokkaido this autumn totaled just under 6,000 tons as of late October, only 3% of the 2003 peak. Fishermen are not only worried about poor catches this year, they are also agonizing over "whether they can continue salmon fishing," said Tetsuya Shinya, head of the Abashiri Fisheries Cooperative.

Locals have long taken it for granted that salmon return to their natal streams and rivers.

"Hokkaido has benefitted from salmon over more than 10,000 years," said Masaki Ichimura, director of the Shibetsu Salmon Museum. In addition to humans, wild animals in the forests, such as brown bears and foxes, have survived harsh winters due to the nutrition provided by salmon.

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