Snow Crab Season Begins in Noto Peninsula; Large Haul Brought in as Fishing Starts

The Yomiuri Shimbun

15:55 JST, November 9, 2024

WAJIMA, Ishikawa — The snow crab fishing season in Ishikawa Prefecture began on Friday. A large haul of crabs was brought in at Wajima Port in Wajima in the prefecture, which was severely damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

The port’s quay walls have risen due to the Jan. 1 earthquake, making it impossible for boats to move around and dock. The central and prefectural governments have been dredging the bay to remove sediment, and a temporary jetty has been installed to enable fishing to be conducted.

Boats that went offshore late at night on Thursday and early Friday morning returned to the port on Friday afternoon. Fishers unloaded cages filled with crabs from the boats and placed them on conveyor belts that connected the temporary jetty to the quay.

“It was good that we could finally go out to sea,” said fisher Katsutoshi Okizaki, 50. “I hope it will be a step toward recovery.”