2008 Volume 48 Issue 3 Pages 1-11
One of major issues facing the fisheries industry today is stagnant local prices of fishery catches. In recent years, expecting the prices to rise, there is a trend toward “local production for local consumption”. If fishery cooperatives and fishermen target customer-oriented production and sales by enhancing their management ability, it would seem more realistic to focus on developing local production for local consumption, rather than on starting broad area distribution that cultivates large consuming markets, in terms of ease in obtaining information about markets and consumers, as well as cost efficiency in promoting sales.
Local distribution has different characteristics from the broad area distribution, as stated below. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a system that meets the following points to achieve the realization of local resource value.
1. It is possible to establish a consumption pattern featuring freshness and high quality, because the process from catching the fish to consumption may be completed within a day.
2. There is a case in which a local distribution (process) system meeting the needs of a local area is established, because consumption patterns of fishery products vary among areas due to the cultural characteristics of a specific area.
3. It can provide merit for both local residents and tourists by consuming specific products and services that are based on a distribution system that takes advantage of local characteristics.
