Article 1The purpose of this Act is to comprehensively and systematically promote policy measures for fishery, thereby stabilizing and improving the lives of the people and promoting the sound development of the national economy, through specifying the basic principles and matters fundamental for the realization of those principles, and clarifying the responsibilities, etc. of the national government and local governments,.

Article 2(1)In view of the fact that fishery products are important as the basis of healthy dietary habits and of healthy and fulfilling lives, a stable supply of high quality fishery products at reasonable prices must be made continuously into the future.

(2)In supplying fishery products, in view of the fact that fishery resources are components of the ecosystem and are limited, in order to ensure their sustainable use, appropriate conservation and management of fishery resources must be conducted based on the appropriate implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and propagation and aquaculture of aquatic animals and plants are to be promoted while giving consideration to harmony with the environment.

(3)In view of the fact that supply and demand, and trade of fishery products in the world is unstable, the stable supply of fishery products to the people must be made by ensuring the sustainable use of fishery resources and on the basis of increasing Japan's fishery production, and by appropriately combining this with importing.

Article 3(1)In view of the fact that the fishery industry has the mission to supply fishery products to the people, the fishery industry must be soundly developed through developing efficient and stable fishery management, securing cooperation among fishery industry, fishery products processing industry, and fishery products distribution industry, and improving infrastructure such as fishing harbors and fishing grounds, so that fishery production, and processing and distribution of fishery products that meets the people's demand that have become sophisticated, and diversified will be conducted, while using fishery resources in a sustainable manner.

(2)In developing the fishery industry, the development of fishery industry must be promoted by improving welfare of the local residents such as their living environment, in view of the fact that the fishing community as a living place for the local residents including fishers plays a role as the foundation of the sound development of the fishery industry.

Article 4(1)The national government is responsible for comprehensively formulating and implementing policies on fishery in accordance with the basic principles concerning policy measures on fishery which are prescribed in the preceding two Articles (referred to as the "basic principles" below).

(2)The national government must endeavor to deepen the people's understanding of the basic principles by providing information on fishery.

Article 5The local governments are responsible for formulating and implementing policy measures for fishery which suit the natural, economic, and social conditions of the areas under their jurisdiction, taking into account the appropriate division of roles with the national government, in accordance with the basic principles.

Article 6(1)The persons engaged in fishery operations and organizations related to the fishing industry are to endeavor to proactively work in order to realize the basic principles in conducting fishery operations and other related activities.

(2)The persons other than fishers who conduct catching and gathering of aquatic animals and plants and related activities, must cooperate in the implementation of fishery related policy measures taken by the national government and local governments.

Article 7In taking policy measures related to fishery, the national government and local governments are to aim at supporting the voluntary efforts made by persons engaged in fishery operations and organizations related to the fishery industry.

Article 8The consumers are to deepen their understanding of fishery and play a positive role in improving their life as a consumer of fishery products.

Article 9The government is to take necessary legislative, fiscal, and financial measures to implement the policy measures on fishery.

Article 10(1)The government must annually submit a report on trends in fishery and policy measures on fishery implemented by the government, to the Diet.

(2)The government must annually prepare a document clarifying the policy measures the government seeks to implement by taking into account the trends in fishery related to the report referred to in the preceding paragraph, and submit that document to the Diet.

(3)In preparing a document clarifying the policy measures referred to in the preceding paragraph the government seeks to take, the government must hear the opinions of the Fisheries Policy Council.

Article 33The national government and local governments are to cooperate with each other in taking policy measures on fishery and endeavor to improve the administrative organizations, and improve the efficiency and transparency of administrative management.

Article 34The national government is to take necessary policy measures for the efficient reorganization and improvement of relevant organizations of the fishery industry so as to contribute to the realization of the basic principles.

Article 35The Fishery Policy Council (referred to as "the Council" below) is established in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Article 36(1)In addition to dealing with the matters that fall under the authority of the Council pursuant to the provisions of this Act, the Council is to study and deliberate the important matters related to the implementation of this Act, in response to inquiries from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or relevant ministers.

(2)The Council may express its opinion on the matters provided for in the preceding paragraph to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or relevant ministers.

(3)Beyond what is provided for in the preceding two paragraphs, the Council is responsible for matters under its authority pursuant to the provisions of the Fishery Act (Act No. 267 of 1949), Act on Development of Fishing Ports and Fishing Grounds (Act No. 137 of 1950), Fishing Boat Act (Act No. 178 of 1950), Act on the Protection of Fishery Resources (Act No. 313 of 1951), Marine Resources Development Promotion Act (Act No. 60 of 1971), Coastal Fishing Ground Maintenance and Development Program Act (Act No. 49 of 1974), Act on Special Measures Concerning Improvement and Restructuring of Fishery Management (Act No. 43 of 1976), Sustainable Aquaculture Production Assurance Act (Act No. 51 of 1999), Act on Promotion of Business Activities by Coordination Between Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Operators of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (Act No. 38 of 2008), Act on the Promotion of Inland Fisheries (Act No. 103 of 2014), and Act on Ensuring the Proper Domestic Distribution and Importation of Specified Aquatic Animals and Plants (Act No. 79 of 2020).

Article 37(1)The Council consists of not more than 30 Council members.

(2)The Council members are appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from persons with relevant expertise on the matters provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

(3)The Council members are to serve on a part-time basis.

(4)Beyond what is provided for in paragraph (2), employees of the Council who are specified by Cabinet Order are appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Article 38If the Council finds it necessary for conducting the affairs under its jurisdiction, it may request the heads of the relevant administrative organs to submit materials, express their opinions, give explanations, and provide other necessary cooperation.

Article 39Beyond what is provided for in this Act, the necessary matters related to the organization, affairs under the jurisdiction, and operations of the Council are specified by Cabinet Order.