Suzuka Nakamura, a researcher at the Renewable Energy Institute, delivered an oral presentation at the 25th Annual Conference of the Japan Society for Impact Assessment (JSIA), held on September 4–5, 2026. Her presentation was titled “Coordination with Governor Licensed Fisheries in Offshore Wind Development: Lessons from Four Cases and the Role of Government Projects.”
Nakamura examined four areas in which Promotion Zones extend beyond waters covered by fishery rights: off the coasts of Goto City in Nagasaki, Choshi City in Chiba, Murakami City and Tainai City in Niigata, and Aomori in the Sea of Japan (southern area). She analyzed the roles that national or prefectural government-commissioned studies, demonstration projects, and other initiatives conducted prior to the establishment of statutory councils played in facilitating initial coordination with governor-licensed fisheries. For this analysis, relevant materials , including reports from these initiatives, were collected and reviewed, and interviews with local governments, fisheries cooperative associations, and other relevant parties were also conducted.
As offshore wind expands further from shore, coordination with fishers operating across wider areas will become increasingly important. This presentation highlighted the need for an institutional framework that supports efforts to understand actual fishing operations and coordinate with relevant fishers before statutory councils are established.
Key Findings
- In all four cases, preliminary projects undertaken by national or prefectural governments covered waters extending beyond areas covered by fishery rights within the scope of consideration for offshore wind development.
- Methods tailored to local circumstances were used to understand actual fishing operations conducted under prefectural licenses. Methods included reviewing existing materials, interviewing fishers, conducting questionnaires, and examining Governor-licensed fisheries adjustment regulations and licensing policies. The study also established opportunities for coordination outside the statutory council process, including information-sharing and consultations with relevant fishers, and surveys conducted in collaboration with fishers.
- The methods used to understand actual fishing operations and the roles played by preliminary projects varied according to local fishing practices and the nature of each project. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that the compilation of relevant information, together with human resource and financial support provided through preliminary projects, can form a foundation for identifying relevant fishers and facilitating coordination at an early stage.
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