Only 35% of tsunami-hit fishermen resume operation

A survey shows only one out of 3 fishermen in disaster-stricken areas in northeastern and eastern Japan has resumed operations.

The agriculture and fishery ministry surveyed fishermen in 6 prefectures, from Hokkaido to Chiba, along the Pacific Ocean in July.

An average of 35 percent of the respondents in the 6 prefectures said they have resumed fishing.

Of those in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures that were hit hardest by the March 11th tsunami, fewer than 20 percent said they have.

The fishermen cited lack of fishing boats and gear as well as damaged port facilities which have made it difficult to land their catches.
The ministry also surveyed farmers in 8 disaster-hit prefectures.

Only 34 percent of farmers in Miyagi Prefecture where more than 15,000 hectares of farmland were submerged by tsunami said they have resumed farming.

In contrast, 83 percent of those in the other 7 prefecture said they have resumed farming.