SUBSIDIES

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS POSED BY AUSTRALIA[1] REGARDING
THE NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATION OF JAPAN[2]

The following communication, dated and received on 19 April 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Japan.

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Japan would like to thank Australia for its questions regarding the 2023 new and full notification of Japan. Japan provides replies to the questions as follows.

3.11 Programs for development and adaptation of new technologies and conservation of fishing grounds

The objective of this program is to support fishermen to conserve fishing grounds and mitigate damage using new technologies.

Question 1

Could Japan please clarify the precise scope and purpose of grants provided under this program?

Reply:

The purpose of this program is "to support fishermen and their organizations to conserve fishing grounds and mitigate damages by harmful marine species, using new technologies", as described in the notification. The scope of this program is mainly activities by fishermen to conserve the marine environment and ecosystems and to mitigate damages by harmful marine species, such as activities (1) to conserve seagrass beds and tidal flats, (2) to collect and dispose of floating/washed-up debris, and (3) to monitor the distribution of large jellyfish, which are one of the most serious bycatch species in offshore/coastal fisheries and cause degradation of the quality of the fish caught together with the jellyfish.

Question 2

Does this program provide benefits to marine capture fishing?

Reply:

This program is to provide support for the conservation of the environment and ecosystems and the mitigation of damages by harmful marine species.

Question 3

Could Japan also please clarify whether there are conditions or criteria attached to the receipt of grants and, if so, what are they?

Reply:

Upon applying this program, applicants are required to meet such conditions as shown in the following. Financial supports under this program will be provided to only applicants who are selected after the review conducted by a project evaluation committee composed of experts and other relevant members.

·_        The applicant must have the intention and concrete plan to carry out the project and have the capacity to implement the project properly.

·_        The applicant must have an appropriate management framework and operational capacity for accounting and other administrative matters related to the project and have appropriate documents such as articles of incorporation, a list of officers, and business plans, reports and income and expenditure statements.

·_        The applicant must be located in Japan and be able to assume responsibility for the overall project and the proper execution of the supports provided.

·_        The applicant must allow the results obtained from the project to be used for public benefit without limiting the use of the results.

·_        The applicant's officers, etc. must not be members of organized crime groups.

·_        The applicant must have a mechanism in place to prevent any irregularities in the administrative procedures.

Question 4

Are these grants provided automatically to applicants or does the program require discretion from the granting authority?

Reply:

Please see Reply for Question 3 above.

Question 5

Do the criteria for these grants contain performance bonuses or relate to, or are contingent on, where the fishing takes place?

Reply:

The criteria for this program do not contain performance bonuses related to the volume or value of catch or aquaculture production. The criteria do not relate to or are not contingent on where the fishing takes place.

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