Studies on the Role of Fishermen in Coastal Zone Management in Japan―A Case Study of Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture―

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Under the background of growing recognition of the integrated coastal zone management and the unified management system of seas areas in Japan, groping toward the effective way of the coastal zone management, especially toward the definition that “by whom and how” has become very important. The objective of this study is to discuss the fishermen’s role in the coastal zone management, under the actual situation of the sea-use which decreasing in fishery use and increasing in recreational use, through a case study of Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. As a result, being a successful management group of the coastal zone management requires three necessary conditions as follows; an ability to communicate between various users, an ability to construct common objective and value among the users, and having the desire to continue to the management. Moreover, it’s also been clarified in this paper that it is essential for the fishermen’s group to acquire the legitimacy and to make every effort to maintain the group’s vitality, to successfully play the role in harmonizing the sea utilization.