Tidal Fluctuation and the Missing Mackerel: Marine Variations in Kinan, Wakayama, Japan (1993-2005)
Along the coast of Kinan, Wakayama Prefecture, the warmth of the sea has quietly changed the fishing landscape. The mackerel that used to be the mainstay of the area have disappeared, and the sesame mackerel have taken their place in the nets. In 2005, 80% of the catch was sesame mackerel.
However, this shift has made life difficult for fishermen. The low market value of sesame mackerel has not brought in the profits it once did, and the unseen forces of global warming have taken away the livelihood of the fishermen. This is not just a change in fish species, but part of the ripple effect of climate change on local communities.
Similar phenomena have been observed in the western Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, highlighting environmental changes over a wide area. The oceans are changing little by little, while maintaining the same appearance as in the past. An era in which the relationship between people and the sea is once again being questioned has quietly begun.
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