【5th Grade Social Studies】 Our Diet and the Fishing Industry
Hello everyone! Today's topic is "The Fishing Industry".
Japan is a country surrounded by the sea. Whether it's sushi or grilled fish, seafood is essential to our dining tables.
"Why is there so much fish caught in Japan?" and "How does the fish get from the sea to our homes?" Let's solve these questions together!
It might feel a bit tricky at first, but don't worry—once you grasp the key points, you'll be fine. Let's learn and have fun!
1. Why Japan has so much fish
Japan is one of the top countries in the world for fishing. This is deeply related to the "ocean currents" flowing around our islands.
● Two Types of Currents: Warm and Cold
There are four major ocean currents around the Japanese archipelago, but let's start by remembering these two types!
① Warm Current (Kuroshio, Tsushima Current): A flow of warm water. It comes from the south.
② Cold Current (Oyashio, Liman Current): A flow of cold water. It comes from the north.
● The "Shio-me" (Current Rip): An Intersection for Fish
The place where the warm "Warm Current" and the cold "Cold Current" meet is called the "Shio-me" (current rip/tide line). This is important!
Cold water contains a lot of plankton, which is food for fish. Because both fish that prefer warm water and fish that prefer cold water gather there, the Shio-me is like a "paradise for fish."
【Key Point!】
・Warm Current (warm) + Cold Current (cold) = Shio-me (a great spot for fishing!)
・The Pacific side of the Tohoku region (off the coast of Sanriku) is so famous that it is considered one of the world's top three fishing grounds.
(Fun Fact: The Kuroshio Current is called the "Black Current" because the flow is so strong and the water looks a deep, dark blue!)
2. The Job of "Catching" Fish: Three Types of Fisheries
Fishing is divided into three categories based on where they fish and how long the boats are at sea. Let's learn them in order of distance from shore!
① Coastal Fishery
Location: Near the coast.
Characteristics: Uses small boats; they leave in the morning and return by evening. It's often done by families.
Examples: Horse mackerel, mackerel, shellfish, seaweed, etc.
② Offshore Fishery
Location: In the seas a bit further away from Japan.
Characteristics: Uses medium-sized boats and stays out for several days. Today, this is the most common type of fishing in Japan.
Examples: Sardines, mackerel, Pacific saury (sanma), etc.
③ Pelagic (Distant-Water) Fishery
Location: The far-off oceans of the world (like the middle of the Pacific or the Indian Ocean).
Characteristics: Uses very large ships and pursues fish for several months to a year. The ships have freezers on board to freeze the fish immediately after catching them.
Examples: Tuna, bonito, etc.
【Common Mistake】
People often think "Pelagic Fishery" catches the most fish, but actually, "Offshore Fishery" accounts for the most. Compared to the past, pelagic fishing is slowly decreasing due to high fuel costs and international regulations (like Exclusive Economic Zones).
3. The Job of "Raising" Fish: Aquaculture
Recently, instead of just catching fish, we have also developed ways to raise them ourselves.
● Aquaculture (Yoshoku)
This is raising fish from eggs in enclosures (nets) in the sea, feeding them until they grow big. The key is that "humans take care of them until the very end."
Examples: Sea bream (tai), yellowtail (buri), scallops, nori (seaweed), etc.
● Fish Farming (Saibai Gyogyo)
This involves raising fish from eggs until they are a bit bigger, and then "releasing them into the ocean." They grow in the natural sea, and we catch them once they are fully grown.
Examples: Japanese flounder (hirame), sea bream, salmon, etc.
【Tip for remembering: Think of vegetable farming!】
In farming vegetables, you sow seeds, grow them, and then harvest them, right? Think of fish farming as "sowing" the fish into the sea, then harvesting them when they get big!
4. How Fish Get to Your Table (Distribution)
How do the fish caught by fishermen reach our homes?
① Fishing Port: Boats land their catch here.
② Wholesale Market: The "auction" (where the price is decided) takes place here.
③ Retail Store: Supermarkets or fishmongers. This is where you buy them.
④ Dinner Table: They transform into delicious fish dishes!
Recently, systems that skip the market and allow people to buy directly from fishermen via the internet are also increasing.
5. Future Challenges in the Fishing Industry
Finally, let's look at the problems the fishing industry is currently facing.
・Fish are decreasing: If we catch too many, they will disappear. That's why fishermen are making efforts to protect resources, such as using wider-mesh nets to let small fish escape or setting specific seasons for fishing.
・The workforce is shrinking: The population of fishermen is aging, and there are fewer young people entering the industry.
・Eating less fish: Another problem is that Japanese people aren't eating as much fish as they used to.
【Summary: Remember these points!】
1. Japanese seas are rich in fish because of the Shio-me where warm and cold currents mix!
2. There are 3 fishing methods: Coastal, Offshore, and Pelagic (Offshore is the main one today).
3. Master the difference between Aquaculture (raising them entirely) and Fish Farming (releasing them to grow).
4. We are using methods like limiting catch amounts to protect fish resources.
Some of these terms might seem difficult at first, but try to look at the fish section in the supermarket while imagining, "Where did this fish come from?" It will make it much more interesting! I'm rooting for you!