Japanese Assail Moves to Ban Fishing by Drift Nets

Japanese fishermen today criticized international moves to ban drift-net fishing, which conservationists say threatens to wipe out much of the world’s tuna stocks in a few years.

The Japan Fisheries Assn. called the move to stop drift-net fishing in international waters “an arbitrary attempt . . . without scientific knowledge.”

“It is really unfortunate for human beings to be swayed by emotional discussions,” it said.

In drift net or “wall of death” fishing, Japanese and Taiwan fleets lay curtain-like nets up to three miles long that trap almost everything in their path.

Conservationists say the drift nets catch so much tuna that stocks could be depleted within a few years. They also catch and kill thousands of dolphins, seals, baby whales and sea birds every year.

“We have been doing that for a long time,” said Hajime Nishimura, an acting director of the association. “We fishermen are not trying to exhaust marine resources. We think in the long term,” he said.

Earlier this year, Japan said it would cut the number of its drift-net vessels in the South Pacific next season by two-thirds, or down to 20.

“Now we need to conduct scientific research to collect enough data to decide what impact drift-net fishing has on the environment. Then we can decide what to do,” Nishimura said.