VR Used to Stir Young People's Interest in Fishing Industry

 Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)--The Japan Tuna Fisheries Cooperative Association is using virtual reality devices in recruitment events at fisheries high schools across the country.

Unlike photos and ordinary videos, VR goggles allow users to see how workers catch tuna and do other work with a 360-degree view from aboard a ship.

"When we held briefing sessions at fisheries high schools in the past, only a few students showed interest in tuna fishermen," an association official said. "But after starting to use VR, we see many students coming forward (to work as tuna fishermen)."

After such a VR experience, one student said in feedback, "(About pelagic fishing) I only had a dangerous image in my mind, but I realized that crew members work cooperatively while ensuring their safety."

Meanwhile, there are many young fishermen who quit after working for only a few years. The industry faces the challenge of retaining them.

The association believes it is important to create an environment in which young people can use social media aboard a ship because long-distance fishermen are usually at sea for more than six months.

Currently, they could experience difficulties in accessing the internet depending on where they are at sea. These problems are expected to be resolved by the introduction of the Starlink satellite communication service, a tuna fishing operator said.

An increasing number of fishery operators are adopting the Starlink service while considering its installation costs, communication fees and other factors, according to the association.

Pelagic longline tuna fishing supplies more than 70 pct of the tuna consumed as sashimi in Japan. The number of Japanese crew members working aboard longline fishing vessels is about 820 this year, or one-fifth the level 20 years ago.

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