Wajima Port Ships Fish for the First Time Since New Year's Earthquake

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On October 31, Wajima Port in Ishikawa Prefecture resumed fish shipments for the first time since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. The powerful quake, which struck on January 1, caused significant damage to the port, including seabed uplift.

*Fish unloaded using a conveyor belt. October 31, Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture.*

A Small Step Forward

Fish caught by bottom trawling were transported to Kanazawa for the evening auction. Toshihiko Kamihama, General Manager of the Wajima branch of the prefectural fisheries cooperative, expressed his determination: "At last, we've reached this point," he said. "Although we are operating on a much smaller scale and are unlikely to even cover fuel costs, today marks a fresh start."

In the early hours of October 31, over 20 vessels set out to sea, returning around midday with catches that included blackthroat seaperch and sea bream.

*Sea bream unloaded at Wajima Port on October 31.*

Challenges Ahead

There was a roughly two-meter height difference between the port and the sea surface caused by the uplift. Therefore, a conveyor belt was used to unload the catch, with fishermen carefully managing the process.

That day's fishing also served as a trial for the port, which had undergone emergency repairs near the mooring area in preparation for the crab fishing season starting November 6.

Full recovery is still a long way off, with each vessel's catch limited to about 20 boxes — a sharp decline from the 200 to 300 boxes caught before the earthquake.