Fishery Decline and Environmental Problems during the High Growth Period (1955-1975) in Chiba, Japan

Fishery Decline and Environmental Problems during the High Growth Period (1955-1975) in Chiba, Japan

During the high-growth period (1955-1975), the fishing industry in Chiba declined due to rapid industrialization and land reclamation. The landfill area reached about 40,000 hectares, and the fish catch plummeted from 200,000 tons to 80,000 tons. Water and air quality also became polluted, and PCBs and heavy metals accumulated in Tokyo Bay, causing widespread health problems in Ichihara City. With the decline of the fishing industry, my father changed jobs to work in a factory, and my family felt the loss of nature. My grandmother said, "The sea gave us everything," and I keenly felt the magnitude of the lost nature.