Ayu

(Sweetfish, Plecoglossus altivelis)

The Nagara River

Cormorant Fishing Japanese Umbrellas

1

15 December 2015, Rome, Italy

Hajime FURUTA

Governor of Gifu Prefecture

(2015.12.10)

Joint Meeting of GIAHS Steering and Scientific Committee

●

Gifu: Located in the “Heart of Japan”

• From peaks of 3,000m elevation to a river basin at sea level

• “The Land of Clear Waters”

Nagoya

Tokyo

Osaka

●

●

Gifu City●

●

●

●Gujo City

Mino City

Seki City

Toyama Bay

Ise Bay

●

The Nagara River

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Sato-kawa

-“Sato-kawa” refers to a river system integratedinto rural settlements through wise use and propermanagement of surrounding areas and forests.

-“Sato-kawa” is a vital link connecting mountainsof “Sato-yama” with sea of “Sato-umi”

Sato-yama

Sato-kawa

Sato : Human SettlementYama : MountainKawa : RiverUmi : Sea

Coastal Socio-ecological systems 3

Terrestrial Socio-ecological systems

Sato-umi

The Nagara River System (Satokawa)

Fisheries

Forestry

Ayu and

Water Culture

Pristine

Waters

Landscape

Diversity Agriculture

River

Conservation

4

Stakeholders

Research and

Educational Facilities• Gifu Prefectural Ayu Hatchery

• Gifu Prefectural Research Institute for

Fisheries and Aquatic Environments

• Gifu Academy of Forest Science and

Culture

Participation

and

Collaboration

Citizens• Clean-up Activity

• Conservation of Endangered Species

• Survey of the River Environment

Fisheries

Cooperatives

Successors

of Tradition• Cormorant Fishing

• Traditional Crafts

(Japanese Paper, Japanese Umbrella etc.)

5

Agricultural

Cooperatives

Forestry

Cooperatives

Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes

Watershed of the Nagara River Thinning of Cedar

Nagara River's Tributary Cormorant Fishing Boat

Terraced Rice Paddies Rice Paddies along the Nagara River

6

Waterway Path in Gujo City

Mt. Kinka and the Nagara River

(Gifu City)

Mino Washi Merchant Street

Farmland

Forest

River

Townscapes

Biodiversity

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Northern Goshawk

（Fowl）

Clouded Salamander

（Amphibian）

Biodiversity of the region has been

sustained by eco-friendly agriculture,

forestry and fisheries.

Japanese Serow

（Mammal）

Gifu Butterfly

(Insect)

Japanese Spatterdock

(Plant)

Unionid Mussels

(Shellfish)

Japanese Pond Turtle

(Reptile)

Dwarf Topmouth Minnow

(Fish)

Red List

Mammal: 3, Fowl: 26,

Reptile: 1, Amphibian: 5,

Fish: 24, Insect: 32,

Shellfish: 9,

Plant: 285

Forestry

Agriculture

Fisheries

Fisheries (1)

Diversity of Freshwater Species Suitable for Fisheries

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Japanese Dace Delicate LoachPale Chub Japanese Sculpin

Ayu Red Spotted Masu Trout

（Catadromous form）Red Spotted Masu Trout

（Landlocked form）Whitespotted Char

Freshwater Goby Japanese CatfishJapanese Eel Japanese Mitten Crab

Tomozuri

(Live Decoy Fishing)

Yana Weir Fishing

(Fish Trap Made of Bamboo)

Nageamiryo

(Cast-net Fishing on a Boat)

Sebariamiryo

(Shoal-net Fishing)

Summer

Autumn

Spring

Fisheries (2)

Diversity of Traditional Fishing Techniques

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Ayu (1)

- Unique to East Asia,

found only in pristine

waters

- Completing migration

between the river and the

sea in just one year

Ayu

(Sweetfish, Plecoglossus altivelis)

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- A sustainable source of

protein in East Asia

(global importance of inland fisheries)

Swimming Upstream

Juvenile Drifting Downstream

Growing to Maturity

Ayu (2)

Winter

SummerSpring

Autumn

Spawning on the River Bed 11

Life Cycle

Ayu Hatchery

Release of Juvenile Fish by Schoolchildren

Collecting Eggs Only from Wild Ayu

Ayu (3)

Preservation of Indigenous Gene Pool in the Hatchery

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72

74

76

78

80

82

84

0 20 40 60 80 100

Greatest Yield in Japan

Wild Catch : 216t

Aquaculture: 871t

+

Ayu Ready to Be Shipped to the Market

in 2012

Ayu

The Pie Chart of Fish Catch in Gifu Pref.

Others

in 2012

Ayu (4)

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Annual Fish Consumption per Capita

and Average Life Span in the World

Annual Fish Consumption

(Age)

(Kg/Person/Year)

Japan

Eating Fish for Good Health

70%

Exquisite Taste,

Fragrance and Freshness

•Irrigation since 350 years ago

•The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) registered the

historical Sodai Irrigation Canal as a Heritage Irrigation Structure in 2015.

Agriculture

The Sodai Irrigation Canal The Shogahora Terraced Rice Paddies

• Various crops such as rice,

vegetables and fruits across

15,000 hectares are nurtured

by the abundant waters of the

Nagara River.

Persimmons Green Soy Beans

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Hatsushimo Rice

Forest Management

Fish Breeding Forest

Strategic Replanting

and Thinning

Forestry

Fish Breeding Forest(4.5 hectares of forests along the Nagara River)

・Providing a conducive habitat sustains

biodiversity and healthy growth of fish

populations.

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The National Convention for the Development of an

Abundantly Productive Sea in 2010

(Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress)

Nurturing Forests, Rivers and Seas

The National Tree Planting Ceremony in 2006

(His Majesty the Emperor)

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The National Tree-Care Festival in 2015

(His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince)

Ayu and Water Culture (1)

Boats for Cormorant Fishing A Cormorant

Fisherman

Cormorant

Fishing • Is practiced in two places (Gifu and Seki cities)

• Techniques remain essentially unchanged since

1300 years ago

• Cormorant fishermen are appointed as members of

the Board of Ceremonies by the Imperial Household

Agency

Baskets for Keeping Cormorants

17

Ayu Sushi Ayu-shaped Sweets

Ayu and Water Culture (2)

Grilled Ayu with Salt

Local Food • Ayu has inspired local food cultures such as

special ways of cooking and presentation.

• Ayu is fermented for sushi and preserved foods.

• Various sweets are designed in the shape of Ayu

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Ayu and Water Culture (3)

Hon-minoshi (Traditional Paper)

(UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014)

Gifu Wagasa

(Umbrella made of Mino Washi)

Traditional

CraftsGujo Honzome Dyeing

(Washing to give fabrics a vivid hue)

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Land and Water Conservation

Mizubune

(Traditional Multi-level Water Separation Tanks)

Tree-planting by Fisheries Cooperatives

Wisdom of WaterConservation

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River-cleaning Campaign

Threats of the Nagara River System

Number of

fishermen

Invasive Alien Species Decline of Engaging

Professionals

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

30000

50000

70000

1972 1982 1992 2002 2012in Gifu Pref.

Coypu (Myocastor coypus)

21

(Total)

(Year)

Future Action Plans (1)

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A. Promoting the “Nagara River Brand” (foods, arts & crafts, tourism)

B. Five-year Strategy

1. Export promotion of Ayu and other products with “washoku” appeal of Japanese cuisine

2. Training & supporting new farmers

3. Optimal forest management for high quality timbers production and

fish breeding forests

C. Hatchery enhancement to increase Ayu stock by artificial spawning

and release programs

A. Fish migration path improvement

B. Conservation of Endangered Species・R&D on breeding technology

・Eradication of invasive species

・Reduction of chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides

Ⅰ. Promotion of Sustainable Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry

Ⅱ. Enhancing Eco-Systems and Biodiversity

Fish Migration Path

A. Hosting GIAHS International Forum

B. Supporting developing nations・Training Center for traditional inland fishing

・Dispatching experts

Future Action Plans (2)

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A. “Nagaragawa Ayu Park”1. Traditional Ayu fishing techniques and ayu cuisine

2. Teaching the young generation about

“the Nagara River System”

B. Hatchery enhancement

C. “GIAHS Ayu Day” (tentative)“Nagaragawa Ayu Park”

(Concept Image)

Ⅲ. Knowledge, Technology & Culture

Ⅳ. Designs for Satokawa Landscapes

Ⅴ. Disseminating to the Global Counterparts

A. Supporting of local communities and NGOs in cleaning rivers

and conservation of terraced paddy fields

B. Creating public spaces with access to the rivers & waterfronts

C. Expanding “Fish Breeding Forest”

The Gifu Prefectural Charter : “The Land of Clear Waters”

Awareness:

We will study and learn about the rich natural environment,

history, tradition, culture and art of craftsmanship with which

the clear waters have provided us.

Creation:

We will strive to improve and utilize our local treasures in

new creations with more appeal.

Heritage:

We will endeavor to pass on the blessings of pristine

waters to future generations.

January 31, 2014

Prefectural Committee for the Land of Clear Waters 24

Thank you! 25