Distribution of Potential for Carbon Dioxide Absorption in Japanese Seaweed Beds Estimated on the Basis of Previous Research

Abstract

To increase the atmospheric CO₂ absorption amount achieved through conservation and restoration activities for seaweed beds, it is important to select a place suitable for the growth of seaweed on the basis of information on the growth conditions of seaweed in the past and present. In this study, to contribute to the selection of activity location, and the setting of target values for CO₂ absorption, we selected sea areas and locations on the basis of previous surveys of Japanese seaweed beds carried out before the 1990s, when the decline and disappearance of seaweed beds began to become notable, and estimated the CO₂ absorption potential (tons CO₂ ha^-1 yr^-1) for 68 locations nationwide. The CO₂ absorption potential ranged from 0.02 to 18.0. When comparing the absorption potential by sea area and seaweed bed type, we found that the absorption potential was particularly high in the northern Sea of Japan coastal area and the Seto Inland Sea for Sargassum beds, in the East China Sea coastal area and the Pacific coast of Shikoku for Eisenia and Ecklonia beds, and in the Tohoku Pacific coastal area for Laminaria beds.