Largest Base for Northern Sea Fishery

Coast of Kushiro area has been known as one of the richest sea in Japan due to the perfect mixture of warm (Kuroshio) and cold current (Oyashio). （See maps for current around Japan）　The histry of fishery at this region is more than a century, and this industry has been playing the core role of economics all the time. About 1970, especially, Kushiro fishery harbor became one of the largest base for Northern sea fishery, and in succession it became the harbor for coastal fishery to 1990. During this period, Kushiro fishery harbor has been nominated as the largest harbor in terms of fish catch in Japan.

Challenge for the New Type Fishery

From 1988, however, the decline of fish catch became clear. Eventually, the fish catch at year 2000 decreased to the only 14% of that at year 1987. Due to this tough condition, people head to the new type of fishery, "Aquaculture."
Aquaculture is taking place at not only sea, but also inland water. There is in fact five spawning stations of salmon located around Kushiro wetland.