The one-day stoppage of fishing operations on Tuesday proves that current high oil prices are acutely affecting economic activities. Most of Japan's 200,000 fishing boats took part in the fishermen's strike throughout the country, the first and largest of its kind.
The 16 fishing organizations that called the strike say it was designed to make consumers, retailers and the government aware of the plight faced by Japan's fisheries.
The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (JF Zengyoren) says the price of "A" heavy oil — the fuel oil used for fishing boat engines — was ¥39,000 per kiloliter in 2003 on average. The price for this month is expected to reach ¥115,400, roughly three times the price of five years ago. The fuel cost now accounts for 30 to 40 percent of total operation costs.