Japanese fishermen protest rising fuel costs

Thousands of Japanese fishermen rallied in Tokyo on Tuesday to protest against soaring fuel costs as boats across the country sat idle for a one-day strike to draw attention to the industry's woes.

Warning that soaring oil prices could put them out of business, about 3,600 fishermen gathered in a park, demanding state subsidies and emergency help, organisers said.

About 200,000 boats -- almost the country's entire fishing fleet -- cancelled the day's work to raise awareness of the industry's plight, a move likely to impact restaurants and dinner tables around the country.

"Because of this abnormal surge in fuel prices, the fishing industry in our country is on the verge of extinction," Tatsuya Hayasaki, a fisherman who came from the southern prefecture of Kagoshima, shouted to the crowd.

"If the lights of Japanese fishing go out, Japan's traditional culinary culture will disappear. Japan's food crisis is already here," he said.

Fishing boats across the country sounded their whistles at 11:00am as part of the protests amid a global backlash against surging oil prices.

Strikes are rare in Japan, which has one of the world's largest fishing industries but virtually no natural energy resources.