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- Japan is able to conscientiously and unilaterally proceed towards a national goal as exemplified by its quick modernization ("Japan :: The Modernization of Japan (1853-, 1905) ").
- Japan does not appear to be disregarding the value of maintaining its fisheries; it appears to be forming an independent opinion as to the state of its fisheries and disregarding all other estimates, especially in the case of the whaling ban. When the IWC imposed its ban on whaling, Japan initially disagreed; however, after further research, they decided to agree ("International Whaling Commission "). Currently, they believe that whale species have returned to sustainable levels, and disregard the IWC as being being too environmentally zealous ("Japan's Whaling Fleet Sails Despite International Censure," 2007).
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Thus, a key aspect in solving overfishing is stopping the fuel that culture is providing for overfishing, and a vital component to this is using education. Indeed, we can look to Scotlandfor an example to make delicacies more prestigious. The Scottish White Fish Producers' Assocation is looking into applying for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation, "a prestigious international charter mark," for haddock and langoustines. As EU Environment secretary Richard Lochhead said, "The MSC standard means consumers can buy fish with
confidence - knowing that these stocks are being fished sustainably." (need to properly cite in-text http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1852609.0.0.php)\\
The Herald, 2007)
Although critiques point to small countries dependant on fishing as a con to any regulation placed on fishing, we can look to the example of the Maldivesto see that once countries and cultures realize the dire condition their fish stock is in, they will take action. They know that lack of action would be a devastating blow to their country and certain cultural practices in the future.
The Maldives is an archipelago of nearly 1200 coral islands where fisheries account for 11% of the GDP, 20% of employment, and 74% of the country's export commodities. The country's dependence on fisheries have led it to develop sustainable fisheries for various species including the giant clam. However, the government was quick to respond to potential overexploitation of the giant clam, by banning its export, though this would definitely decrease some profits for the people of the Maldives. (FAO fishery country profile, http://www.fao.org/fi/fcp/en/MDV/profile.htm, 1998) Indeed, it is essential for us to show countries and cultures that rely on fish, the state the global fishery is in, a task which the educational component of our solution hopes to achieve. If we can have the management of these countries and cultures take the initiative first, we will be more likely in having the people be responsive and supportive of our solution.
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