Desirable Conservation of Seaweed Beds and Tidal Flats

Abstract

Conservation and restoration of seaweed beds and tidal flats are becoming important activities in the coastal management of Japan not only because seaweed beds and tidal flats have seriously decreased and deteriorated historically but also ecosystem-based management and conservation of biodiversity are gaining ground recently. Accordingly, legal and administrative systems which support conservation and restoration of these are gradually prepared. Fisheries Agency of Japan publicized “Future vision of seaweed beds and tidal flats” in 2016. In order to realize the vision, varieties of activities such as intersectoral cooperation and collaboration of various stakeholders are necessary. In this article, established legal and administrative system to assist the conservation are introduced as well as case studies of local activities to restore the damaged seaweed beds and tidal flats. Finally, desirable conservation of seaweed beds and tidal flats in future are discussed from the view point of integrated and holistic coastal management.