Evacuated fisheries workers find work in Kanazawa

While repairs get underway to fix the quake-damaged Wajima City fishing port, some of the workers who are waiting to return to sea have found an alternative way to make a living.

They have been employed by a fishing net recycling company that has set up operations in nearby Kanazawa City specifically for them.

The company, based in Chiba Prefecture, has 20 trawler fishers on its books.

The work involves cutting nylon nets that are then sent to a Taiwanese company that recycles the material and turns it into clothing, bags, and other items.

Evacuees are employed by a fishing net recycling firm.

One of the new employees, a 65-year-old, says, "I am grateful for this kind of support because I have only known work at sea. I hope the fishing port will be restored soon and I can go back out to sea."

The president of the firm that has hired the workers, Seki Kotaro, explains: "We thought that fishing industry workers would be more comfortable dealing with fishing nets, because they are familiar with them. We want to continue supporting them until they can resume fishing."