Abstract
This research examined the transformations of the fisheries relations between Japan and Russia since the establishment of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) system. The author reviewed the transformations with investigation on mutual fishing access to EEZ including salmon & trout catches. The Japan-Russia fisheries relations have evolved through multiple developmental stages, which include mutual fishing access to EEZ, the reductions of a fishing quota to balance catches of the nations, provision of financial and technical support, and a payment system of EEZ fishing access fee. The Japanese salmon industry also has done similar practices, continuing to catch salmon and trout in the Russian EEZ. Additionally, Japan and Russia have attempted to develop joint fisheries projects and to assure fishing operation safety around Kuril Islands. The case of Japan-Russia mutual fishing access shows that a country that has authority over crucial fisheries resources tends to establish specific conditions of mutual fishing access so that it maximizes its national interest. Thus, this case gives us implication what could be future directions of Korea-China-Japan multinational fishing access. The principle of same number of fishing vessels and quantities of catches has worked in existing mutual fishing access to EEZ among Korea, China, and Japan. However, it is expected that a nation that is endowed with abundant fisheries resources would limit counterpart's fishing access to its EEZ. Therefore, Korean fisheries administration should prepare for all possible situations like a dramatic cut in fishing quota and the termination of fishing access. International fisheries cooperation and payment of fishing access could be viable options for such a situation.
