The development of fishery technologies supports food sustainability to achieve a steady supply of fish and fishery products. However, the priorities for research and development (R&D) in fishery technologies vary by region due to differences in fish resource availability, environmental concerns, and consumer preferences for fishery products. This study examines trends in fishery technology innovations using data on patents granted as an indicator of changing R&D priorities. To clarify changes in R&D priorities, we apply a decomposition analysis framework that classifies fishery technologies into three types: harvesting, aquaculture, and new products. This study mainly focuses on China, Japan, and Korea as the major fishing countries in the north-east Asia region. The results show that the number of fishery technology patents granted increased between 1993 and 2015; in particular, the number of aquaculture patents granted has grown rapidly since 2012. However, the trend in Japan was the opposite, as the apparent priority given to aquaculture technology innovation decreased between 1993 and 2015. The trends and priority changes for fishery technology inventions vary by country and technology group. This implies that an international policy framework for fishery technology development should recognize that R&D priorities need to reflect diverse characteristics across countries and the technologies employed.

Jigging with artificial lights (squid jigging) and deploying of large scale trap-net (also known as a set-net in Japan), are the major methods to capture Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus in western Japan. Squid jigging is a highly selective fishing method. However, it consumes large amount of energy for steaming to the fishing ground and for lighting. In contrast, trap-net fishing requires substantially less energy but its capture efficiency is strongly influenced by its stationary mode of capture. The primary objective of this study was to analyze how various environmental and biological factors such as the lunar cycle, tidal condition, wind direction and squid abundance affect the capture efficiency of squid jigging and trap-net fishing. We analyzed the effect of these factors on squid catch in five Fisheries Cooperative Associations located on four islands in Nagasaki Prefecture, western Japan. Our analysis shows that squid catch in jigging and trap-net fishing is mainly influenced by the lunar cycle but also tide and wind direction play a marked role. In addition, squid abundance significantly affects the catches in trap-net fishing. Recommendations are made to improve the overall profitability of squid fishing by proper choice of the capture method, location and season

This study quantifies the marine benthic debris caught in a coastal trawl fishery and its impact on capturing small organisms and codend selectivity. From April to September in both 2023 and 2024, marine debris caught during regular fishing operations by two beam trawlers in Tachibana Bay, Nagasaki, was collected and analysed. Any marine organisms found within the debris were identified and measured. The selectivity experiment was conducted in October 2024, adding five plastic bags inside the codend for experimental tows and without plastic bags for control tows. The codend selectivity for the experimental and control tows was estimated either from logistic or contact probability models. There were 1249 pieces of marine debris weighing 45.04 kg collected, which is a small quantity in the coastal waters of Japan, with plastic exceeding 94 % by both number and weight. Among the plastic debris, 250 organisms of 23 species were found trapped, showing a positive correlation (r = 0.71, p < 0.001) between marine benthic plastic debris and bycatch. Three species, Metapenaeopsis barbata, Acropoma japonicum, and Nuchequula nuchalis, were selected for the selectivity analysis. The contact probability model fits better for experimental tows, while the logistic model fits better for control tows for all three species. The estimated contact probabilities were 0.62, 0.48, and 0.59 for the three species. The selectivity curve indicated higher retention probabilities for smaller fish in nets containing plastic bags, suggesting that marine debris adversely affects the selectivity of trawl nets by trapping small organisms.