We are holding the 10th
Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit this year.

Jim Cannon

SFP (Sustainable Fisheries Partnership)
CEO and Founder

I congratulate Seafood Legacy and the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) for all their work over the years. TSSS has helped align Japanese industry, society and government in many key ways. It has helped companies learn from one another, and reflect on what they need to do to learn from their mistakes and improve their performance.

Improving fisheries and protecting the oceans is a long-term challenge. By 2030, the industry really needs to make three major changes. The first is to realize that most countries and most governments don’t have the capacity to manage fisheries effectively on their own. And it’s the role of industry to figure out how to collaborate with governments to provide solutions. The second is to realize that sustainability is not just a project — it’s a long-term part of your business and a core element. The third is to realize that protecting the oceans means working at a larger scale across ecosystems.

I think Japan, with Seafood Legacy and the TSSS, is very well placed to lead this critical change in the sustainable seafood movement by 2030 and I look forward to working with you to help that vision be realized.

Teresa Ish

Walton Family Foundation
Senior Program Officer, Environment Program

I am so excited to be at the 10th Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS). Ten years ago, Japan had very low awareness of the importance of sustainable seafood and sustainable fisheries. As Japan is one of the largest seafood consumers in the world, its absence meant a lot to our ability to improve fisheries worldwide.

When we started this work with Seafood Legacy, the goal for Japan was to learn from what others were doing, catching up to where they were. We’ve been learning that we need to think about due diligence, other tools such as in the financial markets, transparency and leadership to enhance sustainable seafood. And that is where Japan is really starting to shine. I see Japan going forward as a leader on some of these issues, as opposed to trying to play catch-up to other markets.

At the 10th TSSS, I hope that we can see that leadership really emerges, and see how the Japanese seafood companies and the Japanese financial markets are really starting to push and understand the importance of sustainability in their businesses, and on the health of the oceans.

Jenny Barker

FishWise
Executive Director

I'm so pleased to congratulate Seafood Legacy on the 10th Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS).

This is a really important meeting on the global stage to talk about sustainable seafood, not just environmental sustainability, but also the important conversations happening globally on human rights and social responsibility in seafood supply chains.

At FishWise, we’re so pleased to have been a part of the TSSS for many years now, and we’re pleased to continue our work with Seafood Legacy on human rights due diligence working with companies to help improve supply chains around the world.

We’re also so happy to see how Japan has grown in its practice and regulation of seafood supply chains, and supporting and really becoming a global leader in sustainable seafood, in IUU fishing and in supporting human rights in seafood supply chains.

We are excited to see Japan continue to be a leader in the global community in sustainability far into the future. We look forward to continuing to support that work with the strong partnership that FishWise and Seafood Legacy have. I look forward to seeing you all in Tokyo in October 2024.

François Mosnier

Planet Tracker
Head of Oceans team

I’m really happy to celebrate the 10th Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS). It’s been immensely gratifying to see such an important event grow over the years. I’ve been lucky enough to have contributed and been invited to this event, and it’s always been a pleasure and also a very important moment in Japan’s sustainability journey.

What I’ve really appreciated over the years with the work that Seafood Legacy is doing is how a broad collaboration of actors has been put together and contributed to improving the sustainability of seafood in Japan. There are things that we need to celebrate, such as a change in laws to control Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and import regulation. That’s a major milestone.

But also at the corporate level, we are the first to always push companies to do more. And it’s true that some companies have done a bit more when it comes to bycatch reduction, for instance, or ghost fishing in Japan, however, there’s still a lot more work that needs to be done. We need to tackle overfishing, improve supply chain transparency, enhance monitoring and address human rights issues because all of these are extremely important, not just for environmental and social reasons, but for economic reasons as well.

By 2030, I hope we can celebrate the elimination of illegal fishing and overfishing in Japanese seafood. Yes, I hope to be with you to celebrate that in 2030.

Chris Ninnes

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
CEO

It’s hard to believe that the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) is a decade old. I can clearly remember those early days when there were the first presentations about the ambitions of the organization. So, a huge congratulations to you because you’ve made a difference.

When we look back at the history of sustainable seafood in Japan, the TSSS has made a great contribution and catalyzed a lot of actions over the past 10 years.

Japan has always been a leader in the seafood industry, with a huge historical presence in distant water fishing, with coastal fishing and coastal communities. Now, of course, seafood farming as well. Seafood has always been at the heart of Japanese culture. And I’ve eaten my most beautiful seafood meals in Japan.

All of the leading fishing corporations are based in Japan, and even some of the smaller ones, by Japanese standards, are bigger than their counterparts in other markets. So, there’s a huge presence internationally. Japan is a market that attracts a lot of seafood from within the region. I think the influence of Japan extends throughout the region and we see the benefits of that through those supply chains adopting sustainable practices.

Japan’s approach has been cautious when you compare it to some other countries on this journey toward sustainable seafood. But nonetheless, it’s been steady progress and that’s to be congratulated.

When you think about the history of Japan, what’s happening in the marketplace and what you see from consumers, there’s much more interest in sustainable seafood, and I think that will be translated into more ambitious actions in the marketplace. So, I really expect more from the market. I think that sustainable seafood has a great future in Japan and the TSSS will be a great partner on that journey.

Rupert Howers

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Chief Executive Officer

The 10th anniversary of The Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) marks a decade of progress, collaboration, and dedication to promoting and celebrating sustainable fishing in Japan. We are deeply honoured to be part of this milestone event, alongside our partners at Seafood Legacy.

The Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit holds a special place in the hearts of all those who strive for a more sustainable future for our oceans. Japan, with its rich maritime heritage and vibrant seafood industry, plays a pivotal role in shaping the global seafood market. For a decade now, this summit has served as a catalyst for change, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to address the pressing challenges facing our oceans.

Through initiatives led by the Seafood Legacy including its TSSS, we have witnessed the development and growth of commitments to source and market sustainable seafood. Together, we have championed sustainable fisheries, promoted sustainable seafood, and empowered consumers to make sustainable choices.

With the demand for seafood expected to double by 2050, it is imperative that we all redouble our efforts to ensure all fisheries are managed sustainably, safeguarding the livelihoods of those that depend upon this incredible global industry, contributing to ocean health and food security.

MSC has an aspirational goal to engage over a third of landings in the programme by 2030 as our contribution, through the leadership of our partners, to delivering SDG 14 of the UN’s Agenda 2030.

We stand at a critical juncture in history where the decisions we make today will shape the future of our oceans for generations to come. My vision for the Japanese seafood industry is one of continued progress and innovation. By 2030, I hope to see a thriving market that prioritizes sustainability at every level of the supply chain. I believe that together, we can achieve a truly sustainable seafood industry.

The Japanese seafood industry has made notable strides in sustainability over the past decade. We have seen 13 fisheries achieve MSC certification, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible fishing practices. We also have seen nearly 400 businesses achieve MSC CoC certification giving more choice to consumers who increasingly think they should switch to more sustainably sourced seafood. Many of the CoC certificate holders embrace sustainability not as a burden but as an opportunity for growth, innovation and especially investment for the future.

Our work is far from over. As we look to the future, we must redouble our efforts to ensure that every fishery, every market, and every consumer embraces sustainability as a fundamental principle. Together, we can build a future where healthy oceans, thriving communities, and sustainable seafood go hand in hand.

Thank you for your commitment, your passion, and your partnership in this vital mission.

Martin Exel

SeaBOS (Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship)
Managing Director

Japan has made huge strides in the last decade and I think the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) is a particularly good focal point where people can exchange ideas, have dialogue, understand each other’s positions, and then leave and think about how we can implement change in our organizations, in our local provinces or wherever it may be. And it’s been a very powerful advocate for sustainable seafood production in Japan, while not preaching to people about what they must do. That’s really important because it’s creating solutions that everybody can work with.

When I started my career in the seafood sector 45 years ago, it was thought that if the seafood was caught or produced by Japan, it was sustainable. That was OK. However, over the last four decades, we have realized that we need to do a bit more than that. We need to introduce science. Perhaps, we need to change the way we are fishing or how much we are fishing.

For me, that has been a particular change in the last five years. Watching and being a part of that from the outside has been very special because Japan is not just dependent on seafood, but seafood is part of the nation’s heart and soul. So, we have to look after it.

I believe that you will see much greater collective action and collaboration among Japanese fishing companies to create solutions by 2030. It would be great if I could see at the TSSS the leaders of the Japanese fisheries industry stand up and announce that these are the tangible outcomes and actions they have taken to address the key problems that exist with seafood production.

Gregory V. Brown

GDST(The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability)
Executive Director

We are very proud and honored to be involved with the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) this year. It’s exciting for us because we’re celebrating with them 10 years of success in sustainability.

Nobody has moved the needle in Japan the way Seafood Legacy has and we have been proud to be associated with the company in the significant work it has been doing.

It is important that we support the major sustainability goals and objectives Seafood Legacy is working on in the Japanese marketplace for seafood toward 2030 and beyond.

We see traceability as a key element of those goals and we’re backing 100 percent the Japanese implementation of traceability according to the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) standard.

Another really interesting aspect of the Seafood Legacy program, and especially the TSSS, is that it provides a picture of the sustainability program in Japan. In one location, at one event, you see the local, the regional and the international, and how it all comes together in the Japanese marketplace. And that’s very exciting for us.

Naoya Kakizoe

MEL Counci
President

Reflections of a long journey

It all started with a strange encounter.
In November 2014, the Monterey Bay Aquarium ran a seminar in Japan for people to learn about Seafood Watch, the marine conservation awareness program it had launched in the United States. There were fewer than 20 participants, including some young researchers, NGO members and only three people from the business community (including myself). I should also add that the event was covered by only one news media. One of the participants was Mr. Wakao Hanaoka, a member of Greenpeace Japan at the time. Mr. Hanaoka left Greenpeace the following month, and started taking concrete steps to kickstart a movement for the sustainable use of seafood. I still remember his impassioned facial expressions during the seminar, so it’s not hard to imagine that this seminar really galvanized him.

In April 2015, Mr. Hanaoka visited Ms. Kaori Fujita of Nikkei Ecology (now Nikkei ESG) to share his vision. They hit it off and agreed to jointly host the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS). Then, in July, Seafood Legacy was established. The first TSSS was held in November of that year. It was a brave beginning, especially considering the limited number of speakers from Japan.

I was invited as a special guest to the Ground Fish Forum (GFF) held in London in October 1994. It was a private gathering for European seafood industry stakeholders to discuss fish stock conservation and stable fish prices. The discussions later influenced the EU’s common fisheries policy and seafood eco-labeling and left a lasting impression on me. That’s where my long journey began. In due course, as president of Nissui, I took on the role of embedding a sustainable seafood business within the group, which would later become my lifelong commitment.

In May 2016, then-Fisheries Basic Policy Subcommittee of the Liberal Democratic Party raised the question of whether the sustainable use of seafood in Japan would be able to meet the demands of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, as well as an increase in exports. After a panel of experts conducted a study of global conditions, the Marine Eco-Label Japan Council (MEL) was established with the mission of achieving international standardization. I unexpectedly became the president of MEL and we started conducting activities under the banner of creating a globally recognized seafood eco-label for products originating from Japan. Our actions were watched with steely eyes and it was a rather inconspicuous start. However, everything changed when the promotion of seafood eco-labels was clearly specified as a policy in the government’s fourth Basic Plan for Fisheries, which was approved by the Cabinet in May 2017.

The small movement that began when Mr. Hanaoka’s passion inspired Ms. Fujita in those early days has now become a major ground swell involving society at large, partly because of the adoption thereafter of the SDGs by the General Assembly of the United Nations, which led to political and administrative engagement. And now, the TSSS is ready to be held for the tenth time in October 2024, having become a significant movement that resonates with people not only in Japan, but worldwide.

As someone who has walked a path not too dissimilar to that of the central figure of the TSSS due to a mysterious connection, I am now overwhelmed by a flood of emotions when I think about the long journey that lies ahead for this growing movement that was born from passion and action.

Satoshi Matsumoto

Sustainability Strategy Department, Brand Strategy Division
Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union

Initiatives in Japan have gained traction through TSSS

When TSSS started in 2015, even though the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) had just been adopted by the United Nations, terms like “sustainable” were still relatively uncommon in Japan.
Through participation in TSSS and by learning about the activities of Western companies and NGOs and becoming part of an international network, I feel that Japanese businesses have greatly progressed in terms of awareness and their initiatives.

In addition, the amendment of the Fisheries Act and the enactment of the Act on Ensuring the Proper Domestic Distribution and Importation of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants were key milestones of the last decade.
On the other hand, the sharp decline in catches of popular species, such as the Japanese flying squid and Pacific saury, along with the surge in seafood price, has significantly impacted the lives of consumers. I certainly hope that TSSS will continue to evolve as a platform for collaboration between many stakeholders.

Akihiko Nishi

Nissui Corporation
General Manager, Sustainability Department

Congratulations to the 10th Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit!

I heartily congratulate the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS) on reaching the significant tenth milestone.
I have heard that when the TSSS was first held in 2015, even the term “sustainability” was not yet common in the seafood industry. But over the past decade, interest in sustainable seafood in Japan has grown by leaps and bounds. I believe that the TSSS has played a tremendously significant role in fostering this movement.

Many positive changes have been seen in the industry over the past 10 years. New rule-making and initiatives of business operators have made progress towards the realization of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and the flow of money is also changing in a bid to support these efforts, for example, through the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and blue finance.

That said, there is still a mountain of problems that we must overcome, including overfishing, marine pollution, climate change and human rights violations in the supply chain. Tackling them will require even greater collaboration. The oceans are expected to play a crucial role in sustainable development, particularly in terms of food supply, fighting climate change and regional revitalization. I believe we can further unlock the enormous potential of the world’s oceans by responsibly and appropriately managing and effectively utilizing them.

I hope that the TSSS will function in an even greater capacity as a networking platform and facilitate even stronger collaboration between stakeholders in an effort to bring sustainable seafood into the mainstream in Japan’s seafood distribution.

Masanori Miyahara

Founder, afc.masa
Advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan

Close collaboration and continuation are the key

Fisheries policy reforms in Japan following the 2018 amendment of its Fisheries Act and the commencement of stock management for Pacific bluefin tuna are areas where the most significant progress was seen in seafood sustainability in recent years.
The former, the first major amendment of the act in 70 years, caused considerable friction between fishery operators and the government when they took effect, but things are now finally starting to get on track.
As for the latter, owing to the arduous efforts of fishery operators throughout Japan under the strict management of catch quotas, we are now seeing a significant recovery in the bluefin tuna stock.

Healthy seafood resources cannot be passed on to the next generation without the understanding and support from not only those involved in fisheries industries, but also consumers, distributors and the general public.
I strongly feel that with a close-knit network of a wide range of stakeholders, we must press ahead with our work, which is still only halfway done.

Minako Iue

Chair and CEO, Sailors for the Sea Japan

Realignment between NGOs and the government

In my view, what has changed the most in the past decade is the alignment between NGOs and the government. Both were previously heading in opposite directions, but since the enactment of the amendments made to the Fisheries Act in 2018, I feel that their aims have aligned.

At TSSS 2020, which took place shortly before the Act on Ensuring the Proper Domestic Distribution and Importation of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants passed the National Diet, I was able to have a productive discussion with a representative from the Fisheries Agency of Japan during one of the sessions.
And in a panel discussion during TSSS 2023, representatives from NGOs in Japan, the US, Europe and South Korea shared with us the latest information about their own countries.
The power of NGOs hinges on their capacity to provide platforms in global community for creating new value with great speed and flexibility.
Global cooperation is essential today, and I will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders in and outside Japan, aiming for a sustainable society by improving the marine environment.

Hiroko Sasaki

Representative Director, Chefs for the Blue
Food Journalist

Fisheries Act amendments triggered changes in society

I think the most significant topic from the last ten years was certainly the enactment of the amended Fisheries Act in 2020.
I remember it was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when there were some notable changes in consumer awareness toward food. These not only affected government policies, but also led to a significant shift in society.

For example, we experienced a sudden increase in press coverage, not only from the usual food media, but also in business and fashion magazines, the business and lifestyle sections of newspapers, and television news programs.
Meanwhile, fisheries stock management in Japan has not progressed as initially planned and yields from Japanese waters continue to decline.
Further impetus is urgently needed. I believe it is crucial that we build a system across the entire supply chain to sustain our oceans.

Mariko Kawaguchi

Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate School of Social Design Studies, Rikkyo University
Executive Advisor to CEO (for ESG and market value creation), Fuji Oil Holdings Inc.

Congratulations on the hosting of the tenth Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS).

It feels like it was so long ago, but ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. I first met Mr. Wakao Hanaoka at a sustainable seafood event hosted by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in the US city of Monterey in 2013.
Embarrassingly, even though I specialized in corporate environmental management, I did not fully understand why Western countries ― given their meat-eating culture ― were so passionate about the seafood conservation through movements like the MSC in Europe. I also assumed that Japan, with its strong tradition of seafood consumption, had historically practiced sustainable fisheries (or at least should have).

My misconceptions were shattered by what I learnt at the event in Monterey and through the people I met there. Globally, the seafood industry is a growth sector and there is a great deal of interest in fishery resources. To avoid overfishing, many leading fishing countries are now steering towards stock management-based fisheries. However, I was astonished at the gap between this movement and the reality in Japanese society, where the very concept of sustainable seafood industry was lacking despite the country’s professed love of seafood.

Six months after that encounter in Monterey, when Mr. Hanaoka came to talk to me about setting up a company to promote sustainable seafood, I felt that his aspirations carried a lot of promise. However, as I started to perceive the low level of basic awareness about fishery resources in Japanese society and the outdated practices of the industry, I also felt concerned about how much we could actually achieve given the difficulty of instigating change in Japan.

Also, the TSSS in the beginning was a narrow forum for information exchange for a small group of people, mainly fishing industry stakeholders and those with an interest in environmental issues, so deep down inside, I was actually anxious about whether it could continue. But with Team Hanaoka patiently and passionately continuing to improve the event, the lineup of participants became more diversified and the event got bigger in scale year after year. Today, the TSSS has become a flagship event for many stakeholders involved in the sustainable seafood industry. As a result, the Act on Ensuring the Proper Domestic Distribution and Importation of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants was enacted, and the TSSS not only impacted the seafood industry, but has led to a broader awareness about fishery resources, including in the financial sector. It is a delightful surprise to see that this has contributed to the expansion of sustainable fisheries and also the development of financial instruments like blue bonds. With the past decade as a run-up, I look forward to the TSSS and our society making the next great leap forward.

Takuya Hasegawa

Chief Editor of Yahoo! Japan SDGs, LY Corporation
Co-Founder, Fisherman Japan

The emergence of local heroes over the past decade

Exactly ten years have passed since the establishment of Fisherman Japan (FJ). On the journey to restore livelihoods after the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, FJ was launched with the goal of transforming the fishing industry to be cool, successful, and innovative.

Over the decade, many fishery operators, including FJ members, have started taking action in different regions across Japan, aiming to protect the sea and its fish for the future. So much so that they have become local heroes.
The promotion of sustainable seafood can only start from those who live with the sea.

I think the most significant topic of the past ten years may well be the emergence of these local heroes.
There are still many challenges that need to be addressed, but I am confident that these heroes will overcome them.

Sotaro Usui

President, Usufuku Honten

How do we meet our commitment to eliminate IUU fishing?

At the G20 Osaka Summit in 2019, a declaration was made to recognize the importance of addressing IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing and to work toward ending IUU fishing worldwide.
Before this summit, the European Union and the US had already been spearheading efforts globally by establishing new laws and programs to stop seafood sourced by IUU fishing from entering their markets.
In Japan, cheap seafood sourced by those engaged in IUU fishing is still being imported from around the world, resulting in plummeting market prices.
It is no longer possible for honest fishery operators playing by the rules to make a living.

Going forward, Japan must consider how to keep their words in this international declaration. And we, as fishery operators, must also think and act to protect our longstanding fisheries for future generations.