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), Chiba's fishing communities were greatly affected by rapid industrialization and land reclamation. Along the coast of Tokyo Bay, factory construction progressed and the area reclaimed reached approximately 40,000 hectares. This resulted in the loss of fishing grounds, and the catch plummeted from 200,000 tons in 1955 to 80,000 tons in 1975. Water and air quality were also seriously polluted, especially in Kameyama Lake, where chemical substances were detected more than 100 times the environmental standard, and in Tokyo Bay, PCBs and heavy metals accumulated in marine organisms. In Ichihara City, many students suffered from bronchitis and health problems spread. The decline of the fishing industry made life difficult for the family, and my father changed jobs to work in a factory, but he remained nostalgic for the free life he used to lead at sea. My grandmother said, "The sea gave us everything," and she was keenly aware of the magni
tude of nature that had been lost. In exchange for the convenience of rapid economic growth, much nature was lost and local communities were severely affected.