Japan's total fishery production reached 3.9 million tons in the last fiscal year. This volume rests on a 1.6 million ton aquaculture sector and a catch that fluctuates with each season. The industry's economic output exceeded 1.2 trillion yen, even as its workforce ages and declines.
Key Takeaways
- Japan's yellowtail aquaculture production volume was 120,000 tons in 2022
- The market value of Japan's fishery production in fiscal 2022 was 1.25 trillion yen, down 2.5% from the previous year
- Japan's full-time fishery workers numbered 147,000 in fiscal 2022, down 2.3% from prior year
- In fiscal year 2022, Japan's total fishery production reached 3,872,000 tons, consisting of 2,234,000 tons from capture fisheries and 1,638,000 tons from aquaculture
- Japan's seafood exports in 2022 totaled 440,000 tons valued at 97.1 billion yen, up 14.8%
Japan’s fishing industry remains resilient as key catch and revenue indicators hold steady despite recent pressures.
Related reading
01 · Category
Aquaculture Statistics20 stats
01
Japan's yellowtail aquaculture production volume was 120,000 tons in 2022
02
Salmon and trout farmed production reached 45,000 tons in fiscal 2021
03
Scallop aquaculture output in 2022 totaled 250,000 tons, mainly from Hokkaido
04
Oyster production from aquaculture was 220,000 tons in 2021
05
Seaweed aquaculture volume in Japan 2022: 420,000 tons
06
Japanese amberjack (kanpachi) farmed 35,000 tons in fiscal 2022
07
Eel aquaculture production declined to 6,500 tons in 2021
08
Shrimp farming output was 12,000 tons in 2022
09
Abalone aquaculture harvest reached 6,000 tons in fiscal 2021
10
Pearl oyster production for Akoya pearls: 20 tons in 2022
11
Bluefin tuna ranching volume in Japan 2021: 8,000 tons
12
Sea urchin hatchery production: 2,000 tons in 2022
13
Wakame seaweed farmed 180,000 tons in fiscal 2020
14
Nori seaweed production from aquaculture: 240,000 tons in 2022
15
Milkfish aquaculture: 1,500 tons in 2021
16
Red sea bream farmed production: 25,000 tons in 2022
17
Kuruma prawn output from farms: 2,800 tons in fiscal 2021
18
Konosiri (bridled gurnard) aquaculture experimental yield: 500 tons in 2022
19
Ark shell aquaculture: 15,000 tons in 2021
20
Flounder farming production: 10,000 tons in fiscal 2022
Interpretation
Aquaculture Statistics Interpretation
In Japan’s aquaculture statistics, 2022 production was dominated by seaweed at 420,000 tons and scallops at 250,000 tons, underscoring how high-volume, regionally concentrated farming remains a key driver of the sector.
02 · Category
Economic Statistics24 stats
01
The market value of Japan's fishery production in fiscal 2022 was 1.25 trillion yen, down 2.5% from the previous year
02
Capture fisheries contributed 614 billion yen to Japan's total fishery output value in 2021
03
Aquaculture sector generated 635 billion yen in fiscal 2022
04
Japan's seafood export value in 2022 reached 97.1 billion yen, a record high with 14.8% growth
05
Wholesale value of fresh fish in Japan for 2021 was 1.8 trillion yen
06
Processed fishery products market size in Japan 2022 was 2.3 trillion yen
07
Fishing industry GDP contribution in Japan stood at 0.2% of total GDP in 2020, equivalent to 1.1 trillion yen
08
Average ex-vessel price for Pacific saury in 2022 was 1,200 yen per kg
09
Tuna market value in Japan for 2021 exceeded 500 billion yen annually
10
Seaweed processing industry revenue in fiscal 2022 was 300 billion yen
11
Japan's fishery import value in 2022 was 2.7 trillion yen, mainly salmon and shrimp
12
Retail sales of seafood in Japan reached 5.5 trillion yen in 2021
13
Fishing vessel operation costs averaged 45% of revenue in 2022
14
Aquaculture feed expenditure in Japan for fiscal 2021 was 150 billion yen
15
Ex-vessel price for bluefin tuna in 2022 averaged 4,500 yen/kg
16
Crab market wholesale value in 2021 was 120 billion yen
17
Japan's seafood processing employment wages totaled 400 billion yen in 2022
18
Fuel costs for fishing fleet rose 20% to 80 billion yen in fiscal 2022
19
Oyster farming revenue in Hiroshima prefecture 2021 was 50 billion yen
20
Skipjack tuna canning industry value 2022: 200 billion yen
21
Sea urchin export value from Japan in 2021 was 10 billion yen
22
Eel market size in Japan 2022 dropped to 60 billion yen
23
Abalone wholesale prices averaged 3,000 yen/kg in 2022
24
Squid processing sector revenue 2021: 180 billion yen
Interpretation
Economic Statistics Interpretation
Economic statistics show that Japan’s fisheries have stayed large yet uneven in output, with fishery production at 1.25 trillion yen in fiscal 2022 down 2.5% year on year while aquaculture rose to 635 billion yen and seafood exports hit a record 97.1 billion yen in 2022, growing 14.8%.
03 · Category
Employment Statistics22 stats
01
Japan's full-time fishery workers numbered 147,000 in fiscal 2022, down 2.3% from prior year
02
Aquaculture employment in Japan reached 52,000 persons in 2021
03
Fishing vessel crew members totaled 110,000 in 2022
04
Part-time fishery workers in Japan: 68,000 in fiscal 2021
05
Women in Japan's fishing industry comprised 25% of workforce or 42,000 in 2022
06
Average age of fishery workers in Japan was 55.3 years in 2021
07
Hokkaido fishery employment: 35,000 full-time in 2022
08
Seafood processing factory workers: 180,000 in Japan 2021
09
Fishery cooperative members numbered 900,000 in fiscal 2022
10
Offshore fishing crew: 25,000 persons in 2020
11
Aquaculture farm managers: 15,000 in Japan 2022
12
Decline in young fishery entrants under 30: only 5% of workforce in 2021
13
Fishing gear manufacturing employment: 12,000 in 2022
14
Miyagi prefecture post-tsunami fishery recovery employed 20,000 by 2021
15
Average annual income for full-time fishermen: 4.2 million yen in 2022
16
Foreign workers in Japanese fisheries: 5,200 in 2021, mostly from Vietnam
17
Seaweed harvesting seasonal workers: 30,000 in fiscal 2022
18
Tuna longline vessel crew average: 20 per vessel in 2020
19
Oyster shucking workforce in Hiroshima: 8,000 in 2022
20
Crab processing line workers peaked at 15,000 during season 2021
21
Japan's kelp aquaculture employed 4,500 full-time in 2022
22
Fishery training program graduates: 2,000 annually in 2021
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Employment in Japan’s fishing sector is shrinking and aging, with full time fishery workers falling to 147,000 in fiscal 2022 and the average worker age reaching 55.3 years in 2021.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In fiscal year 2022, Japan's total fishery production reached 3,872,000 tons, consisting of 2,234,000 tons from capture fisheries and 1,638,000 tons from aquaculture
02
Japan's marine capture fishery production in 2021 was 2,244,000 metric tons, marking a 1.2% decrease from 2020
03
The production volume of Pacific saury in Japan for 2022 was 189,000 tons, down 15% year-on-year due to poor catch conditions
04
In 2020, Japan's total seaweed production stood at 402,000 tons, primarily nori and wakame
05
Chub mackerel catch in Japan during 2021 reached 310,000 tons, the highest in recent years
06
Japan's anchovy production from capture fisheries in 2022 was 45,000 tons
07
Squid catch volume in Japanese waters for fiscal 2021 was 178,000 tons
08
In 2019, horse mackerel production in Japan totaled 220,000 tons
09
Japan's sardine catch in 2022 amounted to 120,000 tons, fluctuating due to migration patterns
10
Skipjack tuna landings in Japan for 2021 were 150,000 tons
11
In fiscal 2020, Alaska pollock capture production was 380,000 tons
12
Snow crab catch in Japan 2022 reached 12,000 tons
13
Japan's yellowtail wild catch in 2021 was 55,000 tons
14
Octopus production from capture in fiscal 2022 was 28,000 tons
15
In 2020, Japan's total freshwater fish capture was 45,000 tons
16
Scallop production from Hokkaido fisheries in 2022 was 210,000 tons
17
Bluefin tuna catch quota for Japan in 2021 was 2,201 tons
18
Japan's eel capture production in 2020 dropped to 7,000 tons
19
Abalone harvest in 2022 was 5,200 tons
20
Sea urchin production from capture fisheries in fiscal 2021 was 8,500 tons
21
In 2019, Japan's shark catch totaled 15,000 tons
22
Mackerel icefish production in 2022 was 90,000 tons
23
Japan's penaeus prawn capture in 2021 was 3,500 tons
24
Sea bream wild catch volume in fiscal 2020 was 12,000 tons
25
In 2022, Japan's flying squid catch was 145,000 tons
26
Hairtail fish production from capture in 2021 totaled 25,000 tons
27
Japan's 2020 jack mackerel catch was 180,000 tons
28
In fiscal 2022, rockfish capture production reached 40,000 tons
29
Ark shell harvest in 2021 was 18,000 tons
30
Japan's 2019 surf clam production from capture was 22,000 tons
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Japan’s production statistics show a largely stable but slightly softening outlook, with total fishery production in fiscal year 2022 at 3,872,000 tons and marine capture output in 2021 at 2,244,000 metric tons, a 1.2% drop from 2020.
05 · Category
Trade And Sustainability Statistics23 stats
01
Japan's seafood exports in 2022 totaled 440,000 tons valued at 97.1 billion yen, up 14.8%
02
Main export destinations for Japanese seafood: China (30%), USA (20%), EU (15%) in 2021
03
Bluefin tuna export quota under ICCAT: 2,201 tons for Japan in 2022
04
MSC-certified sustainable fisheries in Japan: 25 in 2022, covering 20% of catch
05
Japan's total allowable catch (TAC) for Pacific saury in 2022: 310,000 tons
06
Aquaculture certification under ASC: 10 farms in Japan as of 2021
07
Plastic waste from fishing gear: 10,000 tons annually in Japan, addressed by 2022 recycling program
08
Bycatch reduction devices mandated on 80% of trawlers by 2022
09
Japan's import dependency for seafood: 60% of consumption in 2021
10
Eel export ban to Hong Kong lifted partially in 2022 after stock recovery
11
Seafood trade deficit in Japan 2022: 1.65 trillion yen
12
Overfishing index for Japanese sardine: improved 15% by 2022 management
13
Closed areas for squid fishing: 20% of EEZ in 2021
14
Fuel efficiency improvement in fleet: 12% by 2022 via new engines
15
IUU fishing seizures by Japan coast guard: 50 cases in 2022
16
Snow crab TAC reduced 30% to 12,000 tons in 2022 for sustainability
17
Traceability system covers 95% of tuna exports from Japan in 2021
18
Marine protected areas for fisheries: 5% of EEZ by 2022
19
Stock recovery success for horse mackerel: 80% above target in 2022
20
Carbon footprint labeling on 30% of seafood products in 2021
21
Japan's seafood exports to USA grew 25% to 20 billion yen in 2022
22
Aquaculture antibiotic use reduced 40% since 2015 to 50 tons in 2021
23
Fishing moratorium days: 120 days/year average for coastal fisheries in 2022
Interpretation
Trade And Sustainability Statistics Interpretation
In 2022 Japan’s seafood exports reached 440,000 tons worth 97.1 billion yen up 14.8%, while sustainability progress is also visible through MSC-certified fisheries rising to 25 sites covering 20% of the catch and an ICCAT bluefin tuna quota of 2,201 tons that helps keep trade aligned with conservation.
report visual · Comparison
Japan’s fishery value: aquaculture vs capture
Aquaculture generated slightly more value than capture fisheries, highlighting aquaculture’s growing economic weight.
Japan's yellowtail aquaculture production volume was 120,000 tons in 2022120,000
Aquaculture sector generated 635 billion yen in fiscal 2022
635
Capture fisheries contributed 614 billion yen to Japan's total fishery output value in 2021
614
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Japan Fishing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/japan-fishing-industry-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Japan Fishing Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/japan-fishing-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Japan Fishing Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/japan-fishing-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
24 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
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issfguide.orgpref.shimane.lg.jppref.ariake.lg.jp
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asc-aqua.orgfishstock.jfa.maff.go.jpkaiho.mlit.go.jpenv.go.jp