Residents of Japan's Noto Peninsula suffered a devastating earthquake on New Year's Day.

Now, some businesses are getting back to work. And the Ishikawa prefectural government has brought together experts to help work out a recovery plan.

The quake disrupted the operations of a company in the city of Wajima that produces dried fish using sauce that's a local specialty. Staff are back on the job, but the fish are no longer caught locally. The firm is buying blowfish and sardines in other cities.

Wajima's fishing fleet is stuck in port. The boats can't go out to fish because the quake raised the seabed.

The company says the fish are not from Wajima, but they hope to supply their dried fish to customers.

The Ishikawa prefectural government aims to come up with a recovery plan by around June. Officials and experts met on Thursday for their first discussions to formulate a development strategy.

Ishikawa Governor Hase Hiroshi said: "What do we want for this region as we move forward? We need to aim for stronger infrastructure as a model for the rest of the country."

Officials are aiming for creative reconstruction to enhance the Noto region's brand. They plan to strengthen infrastructure and help rebuild communities and traditional livelihoods so people can again live with peace of mind.