Analysis of the conditions for fisherman to accept companies newly entering aquaculture: An example of bluefin tuna aquaculture on Kamisakiura in Mie Prefecture

Abstract

 This study examines the relationship of recognition between companies, which want to start new businesses in aquaculture, and local fishermen in Kamisaki-ura district in Mie Prefecture, as an example. Two different styles of questionnaires were provided to the local fishermen, the first with a five-point scale and the second as a choice experiment, to evaluate the conditions under which they allow companies to start businesses in their region. The first questionnaire was analyzed by factor analysis, and clarified that fishermen accept newly starting companies in aquaculture under six conditions. With these six conditions, the second questionnaire was presented to the fishermen as a choice experiment. The results showed that the fishermen essentially assume an opposite position toward the new entry of the companies. It is also found that they place importance on acceptable conditions in the following order: priority on hiring local people, restriction on use of raw food, hometown of the company president or staff, kind of fish in aquaculture and size of the company.