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Oyster farmers rebuild livelihoods in tsunami-devastated Japanese town
This version of Oyster Farmers Rebuild Livelihoods Tsunami Devastated Japanese Town Flna292723 - Breaking News | NBC News Clone was adapted by NBC News Clone to help readers digest key facts more efficiently.
epa03129155 (14/20) Rafts for oyster farming on the Yamada Bay are seen off tsunami-devastated fishing port town of Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, 15 February 2012. As a result of the tsunami on 11 March 2011, 770 of about 17,000 residents were either killed or recorded missing. Aqua farming which is the main industry in the town was devastated by the tsunami. Many aqua farmers lost their houses, fishing vessels, farming rafts and fishery workshops. The remaining oyster farmers decided to work together, pool resources and rebuild their business as a cooperative. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA PLEASE SEE ADVISORY (epa03129141) FOR FULL FEATURE TEXTKIMIMASA MAYAMA / EPA
770 residents of the Japanese port of Yamada died or remain missing as a result of the tsunami just under a year ago, the European Pressphoto Agency reports. The main industry in the town, aquafarming, was devastated, with many farmers losing their boats, farming rafts and fishery workshops as well as their homes.
But all hope is not lost. The remaining oyster farmers decided to work together, pool resources and rebuild their business as a cooperative. They were fortunate that some young oysters had survived the tsunami, which meant they could produce their first harvest in November, eight months after the disaster.
52-year-old Masahi Shirano, head of the cooperative, says he would have given up the trade if it wasn't for his son, Takashi, who works alongside him. The pair start their working day three hours before sunrise with the arduous task of shelling oysters harvested the previous day. Others are at work building new farming rafts.
Masahi says he considers himself lucky. "If my son gave up, I would give up the fishery business," he says.
epa03129151 (10/20) Aquafarmers warm themselves by a fire during a break as they shell oyster harvested off the tsunami-devastated fishing port town of Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, before sunrise, 15 February 2012. As a result of the tsunami on 11 March 2011, 770 of about 17,000 residents were either killed or recorded missing. Aqua farming which is the main industry in the town was devastated by the tsunami. Many aqua farmers lost their houses, fishing vessels, farming rafts and fishery workshops. The remaining oyster farmers decided to work together, pool resources and rebuild their business as a cooperative. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA PLEASE SEE ADVISORY (epa03129141) FOR FULL FEATURE TEXTKIMIMASA MAYAMA / EPA
