Read and think

ARE YOU READ Y FOR AYU?

Japan is known for its fishing industry and for the amount of fish eaten in the country. Per
capita fish consumption is 34.4 kg a year. Although Japan is made up of islands and fishes off
its own coasts, its trawlers travel thousands of kilometres to fish tuna, for example, and are at
sea for over a year before they get back home.

However, in warm, wet Japan, there is lots of rain to fill the streams that run down from the
mountains. And it is here in the rivers that people love fishing for smaller fish. A particular
favourite is a very tasty small fish, called ayu in Japanese and sweetfish in English. So, from
about the beginning of June to around September, people head for the rivers and streams to
fish ayu and then barbecue and eat them.

The interesting thing about ayu fishing is that the fishing technique is only used in Japan. This is
how you do it. You attach a ring to the nose of a live ayu and a hook to its belly. Then you
attach the ring to your fishing line and drop the ayu into the stream. When another ayu sees
the bait, it tries to defend its territory. When it bumps into the live ayu, it gets caught on the
hook and all you have to do is pull it in.

In some parts of Japan, a very old method is used to catch ayu. People light bonfires to attract
the ayu towards their fishing boats and then send trained cormorants to catch the fish and
bring them to the boats. It seems to be less effort.

1. True or false? Correct the false statements.

o People in Japan eat a lot of fish.

o The Japanese obtain all their fish from around their coasts.

o Japan has a cold dry climate.

o Japanese people use worms as bait to catch ayu.

o Ayu are very territorial fish.

2. Answer the questions.

o How long are tuna trawlers at sea?

o What do you think the difference is between a river and a stream?

o What is so special about the first technique described for catching ayu?

o In the second technique, why do people light bonfires?

o What other fishing techniques do you know of?

3. Work in pairs. Find out about all the steps involved in the production of tuna, from the
moment the fish are caught to the time when a tin of tuna appears in your local shop.
Draw a diagram showing these steps and the people involved and present it to the
class.