Improvement of overall management of fisheries affairs is essential in drawing broad, deep concern from the public and industrial sectors regarding a stable supply of marine products and sound development of fisheries. The ReCFEBA is the sole research center in the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) that is responsible for fishery socioeconomic studies. Three groups involved in the center conduct research in conjunction with our final goal.

► The Supply-Demand and Management Group is responsible for studies on fisheries policy, supply and demand trends of marine products, and management of fisheries and aquaculture.
► The Fisheries Management Policies Group conducts fishery management studies that assist advanced management measures, marine resources environments, the local economy, and fishery management.
► The Social and Economic Development Group carries out research on methods to promote the development of fishing villages and how their technical evaluation and value add to various aspects of the fishery business.

	The red snow crab (Chionoecetes japonicus) landed at Sakai-Minato, western Japan. Value adding has been sought to raise its market price comparable to the snow crab (C. opilio).
The Japanese scallop (Mizuhopecten yessoensis) is one of the most popular marine products in northern Japan, and a new market is being sought with the help of HACCP authorization.
	A festival scene at a fisherman’s village in Japan. Amenity functions are an important factor for sound development of this type of village and surrounding communities.