Since there have been no intergovernmental consultations on so-called "safe operations" that Japan fishing boats carry out around the Four Northern Islands based on the agreement between Japan and Russia, it is an unusual situation that hokke fishing around Kunashiri Island, which is usually lifted from September, is still not possible.
"Safe operations" around the Four Northern Islands are negotiated every year based on an agreement between the governments of Japan and Russia, but while the Japan imposed sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified the Japan side in January that it could not hold intergovernmental consultations, and has not been able to start consultations.
For this reason, hokke fishing around Kunashiri Island, which is usually lifted from September 9 based at the port of Rausu Town in eastern Hokkaido, is in an unusual situation where it is not possible to go fishing even in October.
According to the fisheries cooperative, eight local fishing boats are fishing for hokke in the waters on the Japan side before the so-called "middle line" while receiving partial subsidies for expenses according to the number of days of operation as a government support measure.
In addition, octopus fishing in the vicinity of the Habomai archipelago, which is usually lifted from October 16, is uncertain.
According to the Fisheries Agency, there has been no positive response from the Russian side to implement the operation.