Fishermen all across the globe have been hit hard by the increase in fuel prices. Their vessels suck down tremendous amounts of diesel, which now makes up 20-30 percent of their costs in Japan, for example, which is double from what it was 3 years ago. This has led to protests, including one day strikes. While such strikes may not mean so much to people in the States, Japan’s primary traditional diet is fish. Increases in costs have been causing the Sakana Banare, or “flight from fish.” Fishermen fear that people will switch to the less expensive burgers and chicken instead. Recently, the Japanese government has responded with 700 million in funding, promising to pay the most recent of increases themselves — but only to those fishermen who do something to reduce their costs. (Would that the U.S. government put the same conditions on the bailout money to GM and Chrysler.)
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