Seasonality and Change in Traditional Fishing Patterns in Minatogawa, Okinawa

Within the coral reef of Okinawa, various methods of fishing have been developed since ancient times. These methods correspond to the habits and habitats of marine fauna on the coral reef. As a result of reversion to Japan in 1972, the people in Okinawa were under the same legal restrictions as those on the mainland. Some have continued fishing by conventional methods; others were forced to switch to different methods, or were even forced to change fishing grounds. Besides, conventional monthly fishing patterns have been altered recently because of the adoption of newly-introduced fishing methods. One is trolling around payaw, floating fish aggregation devices installed off the coast which attract tuna and bonito etc., and started in 1984. Another is handline fishing for diamondback squid (sode-ika) which began to be widely adopted in 1990. In particular, alteration in the former has greatly increased annual income while bringing about a change to the traditonal fishing patterns. Even though these newer methods may attract the younger generation to become fishermen because a simpler fishing skill is required, it is evident that it will accelerate to rapidly estrange fishermen from their traditional knowledge and skill necessary for fishing at sea. It may act as an unfavorable factor which will lead to an over-exploitation of the marine resources as well. The ecological and socio-economic aspect of fishing activities in Okinawa is described and discussed here, focusing on the transition of the fishing methods and patterns