Japan: Global warming risks agriculture and fisheries

An agriculture ministry report forecasts risk to Japan’s agriculture and fisheries due to increasing global warming which would generate disaster for these industries.

According to the report the global warming could increase the level of damage in future for agriculture and fisheries such as a sharp decline in poultry production and elimination of coastal saury fishing areas. The rising global warming could wipe out the land fit fot growing apples in and around the Kanto region. There would a heavy decline in rice production.

The report mentions that the poultry could be a main target and demand Forestry and Fisheries Research Council to obtained data through an experiment by the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. According to the Institute the higher the temperature the slower the chickens grow, leading to a weight loss.

The report says there will be huge decline in fisheries in coastal region by 2060 in Kyushu and areas along the Seto Inland Sea. Even some parts of the Kinki and Tokai regions also get affected. It is assumed that in 2060 the national average temperature wil be 3 degrees higher than what it is at present. It is mentioned that in about 100 years, saury fishing areas near Japan's coasts will be wiped out due to anticipated rise in sea temperatures, says report. Therefore the report stressed the need for breed improvement and other innovations to fight warming.

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WorldFishingToday d. 30-01-2008