Structural barriers and opportunities to sustainability in Japanese fisheries Co-management: Evidence from MSC pre-assessments

Japan's coastal fisheries are experiencing a severe decline, yet their co-management system—long regarded as a traditional strength— consistently fails to meet international sustainability standards, such as those of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). This study analyzes 66 MSC pre-assessments conducted between 2013 and 2023 to systematically identify governance gaps and their underlying structural causes. Drawing on empirical assessment data and a decade of field experience as an MSC assessor, including stakeholder interviews and on-site observations, this study examines why fisheries commonly underperform across three MSC Principles, with particular focus on governance structures evaluated under Principle 3. Results reveal four critical structural barriers: (1) the absence of science-based objectives coordinated at stock level; (2) closed, non-inclusive decision-making processes; (3) weak monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; and (4) misaligned incentives due to skewed subsidies and budget allocation. These governance issues directly drive poor performance under Principles 1 and 2, including inadequate harvest strategies, insufficient bycatch and threatened species management, and limited ecosystem-based approaches. Truly promoting sustainable fisheries in Japan requires a systems-based approach that fosters locally adapted mechanisms aligned with Japan's production and distribution systems, while addressing structural weaknesses to update co-management functions with current science and management. Co-designed Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs) tailored to Japan’s small-scale, multi-species context offer a practical vehicle for this systemic transformation. Integrating international best practices with Japan's revised Fishery Act and market-based incentives, such FIPs can coordinate cross-sectoral action, strengthen adaptive management, and serve as catalyst for revitalizing Japan's fisheries sector.