Living and Working Conditions of Fishermen Engaged in Scallop Culture in the Bay of Uchiura, Hokkaido

Abstract

Sawara-machi facing Uchiura Bay in Hokkaido is a fishing town. Those inhabitantswho are occupied mainly with fishery have undergone health examination annually since 1979. From 1981 to 1984, medical checkups and questionnaires were conducted on those persons engaged in scallop culture. The results were compared with those of health surveys conducted on thedairy farming populace of the neighboring Yakumo town.
The 1981 medical checkup revealed that obesity and hypertension were most prevalent. Obesity was more common among women than among men. Hypertension was more widely recognized in men than women. In the following year, those suffering from hypertension were found to have reduced to half in number, whereas the number of obese people remained unchanged.
The obesity rate of men was higher in the fishing town than in the dairy farmingcommunity, but as for women there was little difference between the two localities. The higher incidence of hypertension was noted among fishermen and women in Yakumo-machi.
In questionnaires, more women in the fishing town than those in the dairy farming town said that they feel “not well” and “tired.”
When medical checkups were conducted, nutrition guidance was provided to the examinees, especially hypertensives and obese people. Advice was given to them not to take salty diets. This may have resulted in a decline in the incidence of hypertension during the four-yearperiod. However, as regards obesity and the farmer's syndrome, the situation has remained unchanged.
Better health is prerequisite to the physical and mental well-being of society. To promote individual's health, medical and health practicioners must continue to work together and spread knowledge for safeguarding men from health threats.