January 24, 2015
Japan’s Supreme Court on January 22 dismissed the national government’s appeal against a high court ruling ordering it to pay damages to the people adversely affected by the state’s reclamation works in Nagasaki Prefecture. With this dismissal, the high court decision was finalized.
In the late 1990s, the government pushed ahead with the reclamation project at Isahaya Bay, which is well known as a natural environmental treasure, and forcibly reduced the size of the bay by about 3,500 hectares after installing a huge sea dike.
Local fishermen filed a lawsuit against the state in 2002, claiming that the dramatic drop in their catch was caused by the closing-up of the bay area. In 2010, the Fukuoka High Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering the government to open the drain gates of the dike. Although the administration did not appeal the ruling, it refused to open the gates.
With the aim of pushing the state to abide by the court decision, those fishermen filed another action with the Saga District Court, demanding that the government pay them 490,000 yen a day in compensation until it opens the drainage gates. In April 2014, the district court ruled for the plaintiffs, directing the state to pay damages. The administration appealed the ruling, but two months later, the Fukuoka High Court upheld the lower court judgment. The state took the case to the nation’s top court.
Manaki Akio, leader of the defense counsel for the fishermen, said, “It’s quite natural that the Supreme Court rejected the state’s appeal. There is now no option for the government but to open the gates.”
A 62-year-old fisherman said, “I’m happy that the Supreme Court supported our demand. The reclamation significantly damaged the coastal environment, and now we can hardly see any shellfish. The government should open the drain gates as soon as possible.”
Past related article:
> High court rejects state appeal against court-imposed fine over Isahaya Bay dike [June 7, 2014]
In the late 1990s, the government pushed ahead with the reclamation project at Isahaya Bay, which is well known as a natural environmental treasure, and forcibly reduced the size of the bay by about 3,500 hectares after installing a huge sea dike.
Local fishermen filed a lawsuit against the state in 2002, claiming that the dramatic drop in their catch was caused by the closing-up of the bay area. In 2010, the Fukuoka High Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering the government to open the drain gates of the dike. Although the administration did not appeal the ruling, it refused to open the gates.
With the aim of pushing the state to abide by the court decision, those fishermen filed another action with the Saga District Court, demanding that the government pay them 490,000 yen a day in compensation until it opens the drainage gates. In April 2014, the district court ruled for the plaintiffs, directing the state to pay damages. The administration appealed the ruling, but two months later, the Fukuoka High Court upheld the lower court judgment. The state took the case to the nation’s top court.
Manaki Akio, leader of the defense counsel for the fishermen, said, “It’s quite natural that the Supreme Court rejected the state’s appeal. There is now no option for the government but to open the gates.”
A 62-year-old fisherman said, “I’m happy that the Supreme Court supported our demand. The reclamation significantly damaged the coastal environment, and now we can hardly see any shellfish. The government should open the drain gates as soon as possible.”
Past related article:
> High court rejects state appeal against court-imposed fine over Isahaya Bay dike [June 7, 2014]
