Global Environmental Research
Online ISSN : 2432-7484
Volume 9, Issue 2
Conservation and Management of Living Marine Resources
Displaying 1-10 of 10 articles from this issue
  • Hiroyuki Matsuda
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 93
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     This issue of Global Environmental Research discusses several characteristics of capture fisheries management: (1) a history of repeated mismanagement, (2) fostering and developing adaptive management, and (3) seeking sustainability in human-nature relationships. Japanese fisheries and nature conservation movements also have a number of characteristics, including (i) sympathies for sustainable use, including commercial whaling, (ii) community-based fisheries management, and (iii) a big market for fisheries products.

     In 2005, the Shiretoko Peninsula on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido achieved listing as a World Natural Heritage site. Coastal fisheries exist in this region, so coexistence of natural ecosystems and sustainable fisheries is sought (Torii). The management plan for this region will be based on ‘co-management’ by local fishing cooperative associations. Japanese fisheries have traditionally been characterized by co-management, and this continues currently (Makino). The sandfish fishery has dealt with natural stock fluctuation and provides a good example of an agreement by the community union to ban fishing (Watanabe & Sakamoto). The fishing community union of the sandeel fishery in Ise Bay is adaptively managing a Marine Protected Area and fishing periods (Tomiyama et al.).

     Among whaling and tuna fisheries, international fisheries management has been developed. This includes management of both taxa (Matsuoka et al., Morishita & Goodman, Tsuji). These are some typical examples of adaptive population management, a key concept in marine and terrestrial population and ecosystem management. Readers, however, may find some differences between Japanese coastal fisheries and international fisheries regarding adaptive management. These differences may reflect differences in fishing law systems between Japan and developed countries of the West (Makino).

     Maximum Sustainable Yields (MSY) ignore uncertainty, the dynamic nature of stock fluctuations and complexity of ecosystem interactions. Therefore, fisheries management based on MSY theory has not worked for many fisheries. Japanese sardine stocks have been decreasing since about 1990. The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of the Japanese sardine is a target of controversy between the fisheries industry and scientists (Nishida). Some Japanese fisheries scientists recommend TAC decision rules based on theories other than MSY.

      The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is also involved in this issue, though MSC certification has not been achieved in Japan (Izawa & Makino). I expect MSC certification to play a big role in sustainable fisheries. Thus, some of the authors in this issue represent the Japanese government (Torii from the Ministry of Environment, Morishita from the Fisheries Agency), while others represent non-governmental organizations (Izawa of WWF Japan). I hope our readers will enjoy the diversity of perspectives in Japanese society on fisheries management.

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  • Mitsutaku MAKINO
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 95-104
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     The Ecosystem Approach of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a social and holistic decision-making framework for ecosystem management. It links biological, social and economic information and aims to achieve a socially acceptable balance between nature conservation priorities and the use and sharing of benefits of resource. This article introduces this approach’s conceptual background as an alternative to conventional environmental policy concepts. Then, it examines institutional characteristics of Japanese fisheries management from the viewpoint of the Ecosystem Approach. The objective of the analysis is to define the advantages and shortcomings of Japanese fisheries management, and to derive logical foundations for policy responses necessary to achieve marine ecosystem management in Japan.

     As an environmental management institution, the Japanese fisheries management system has many advantages such as a decentralized management system, adaptive management process, use of local and scientific knowledge, multi-scale and interlinked management and promotion of sustainable resource use in economic context. On the other hand, conservation of ecosystem structures and functions falls basically beyond the scope of this management. Progress in scientific understanding should be promoted in order to achieve marine ecosystem management. Discussions should also be facilitated of appropriate characteristics of rights and licenses, ecosystem perspectives in formulating TAC and TAE, and the role of fisheries in marine ecosystem management. Also required will be wide-ranging stakeholder involvement, a watershed management viewpoint, identification of ecologically necessary data, development of long-term ecosystem indicators, and role-sharing in data collection and monitoring. The ‘term Marine Protected Area (MPA)’ is not synonymous with ‘no-take zone.’ An economically and ecologically meaningful MPA system can be devised and should be implemented where necessary.

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  • Koji MATSUOKA, Takashi HAKAMADA, Hiroshi KIWADA, Hiroto MURASE, Shiget ...
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 105-115
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     The Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) was designed as a large-scale, long-term monitoring program using line transect surveys. These have been carried out in a consistent way during the austral summer every other year in the IWC (International Whaling Commission) baleen whale management Areas IV (70°E-130°E) and V (130°E-170°W) since the 1987/88 season. The current research area was set in the half of the Antarctic areas located between 35 °E and 145°W in the waters south of 60°S. Major cetacean species sighted in this area were Antarctic minke (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and blue (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) whales. A ‘shift in baleen whale dominance’ from Antarctic minke to humpback whales, was observed in Area IV since the 1997/98 season. In the 1989/90 sea son, Antarctic minke biomass (382,000 tons) was higher than that of humpback whales (139,000 tons), but after 15 years, the biomass of humpback (841,000 tons) increased to more than twice that of Antarc tic minke (335,000 tons). Habitat expansion of humpback and fin whales were also observed in Area IV from the first half (1989/90-1996/97) to the latter half of the surveys (1997/98-2003/04). At this moment, the abundance of Antarctic minke whales is stable in Area IV, but increases in abundance and habitat expansion of humpback and fin whales may lead to their competition with Antarctic minke whales. Yearly changes in some biological features also suggest this ‘event’. Further monitoring surveys will be required in order to improve baleen whale management in the Antarctic Ocean.

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  • Sachiko TSUJI
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 117-123
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     Historically, management of the southern bluefin tuna had been a great dispute among relevant parties. However, the situation is improving in recent years, mainly due to the introduction of the independent Advisory Panel to the scientific process of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) and its agreement to adopt a management scheme based on the Management Procedure, a set of pre-specified TAC adjustment rules evaluated with thorough simulations. Concepts and the progress of developing Management Procedures under the CCSBT are introduced. Some of the advantages of Management Procedure are: 1) avoids continuous and consistent struggle in selecting appropriate management action by choosing pre-specified rule beforehand, and 2) chooses management plan by examining effectiveness for multiple or even contradictory objectives with clear understanding on trade-off. Limitations in Management Procedures are: 1) underestimates the uncertainty intrinsic to stock assessment model in general, especially on absolute stock level and projections, and 2) only valid within the uncertainty range that is examined.

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  • Hiroshi NISHIDA
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 125-129
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     Stock assessment for the Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) in the northwestern Pacific was conducted based on VPA and biomass surveys independent from commercial fisheries data. The stock size of Japanese sardines in the northwestern Pacific has shown a continuous decrease from 1987 to 2003 and the stock biomass estimate for 2003 was about 130 thousand tons. The spawning success (RPS: number of recruits/spawning biomass) has been 22 inds./kg in average and fluctuated between 5 and 61 inds./kg during the recent 10 years. From the historical perspective, the current stock status would not be in the conditions for rapid stock recovery. The acceptable biological catch (ABC), that is the biological criterion for the TAC, is set to rebuild the spawning biomass at least to the level at which the recruits are expected to be comparable with those of 1996 year-class. Some hypothetical scenarios for controlling the catch amount were explored, in order to avoid intensive fishing efforts on dominant recruits.

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  • Kyuji WATANABE, Kazumi SAKURAMOTO, Hideki SUGIYAMA, Naoki SUZUKI
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 131-137
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     Sandfish (Arctoscopus japonicus) catch fluctuations both in Korea and Akita Prefecture, Japan, coincided closely until the mid 1970s, although each of the catch derives from different stocks. After that, however, the pattern of catch fluctuations in Akita was differed considerably from that in Korea, i.e., the amount of the catch has been very low since the mid 1970s. However, no mechanism behind the similarity and differences in catches between Korea and Akita has been demonstrated so far. The aim of this study is to investigate mechanisms behind these catch fluctuations using the information on ocean environment and catch forecasting model developed by Sakuramoto et al. (2001). The result is that the stock depletion occurring in the mid 1970s was due to environmental factors and after that the heavy decline in catches in Akita was due to overfishing. The important thing in managing a fish stock is to avoid putting pressure on fish by high fishing intensity, which has already been depleted, and to avoid losing a chance to recover abundance of fish depleted due to high fishing intensity.

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  • Minoru TOMIYAMA, Claire-Marine LESAGE, Teruhisa KOMATSU
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 139-149
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     Ise Bay is a shallow semi-closed bay located in central Honshu Island, Japan, facing the Pacific Ocean. This bay provides one of the major fishing grounds for Pacific sandeel, Ammodytes personatus Girard, in Japan. Sandeel juveniles targeted by the fisheries in Ise Bay are mainly caught by pelagic-trawl fleets consisting of two net boats and one or two transport boats. At present about 200 fleets are engaged in this fishery. The lifespan and maximum body size of Pacific sandeel are three years and about 16 cm, respectively. The stock of sandeels in Ise Bay once collapsed between the late 1970s and early 1980s for five years because of over-exploitation and environmental deterioration. After the collapse in 1980, fishermen and researchers started to conduct regulatory measures on a collaboratory basis between the two prefectures surrounding Ise Bay. In 1990 they decided on three measures to establish management as follows: 1) protection of spawners, 2) setting an opening day and 3) setting a closing day for the sandeel fisheries. Sandeels have a characteristic behavior of burrowing into sand for aestivation during May to November. Using this unique property, the number of spawners could be controlled through establishment of a closing day for fishing. This helps to control and survey the number of spawners. Protecting spawners for successive reproductive seasons and establishment of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) have played an important role in adaptive management. The area of the MPA increased if the remnants of the stock are small. Community-based unions play an important role in enforcing these management measures.

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  • Arata IZAWA, Mitsutaku MAKINO
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 151-156
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     As the fishing industry has a tremendous impact on the marine environment, fisheries management must not only focus on the management of marine resources, but must also aim to be environmentally sustainable. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) - which certifies sustainable fisheries - was created to provide a market-based set of incentives for better management of fisheries to achieve sustainable seafood production. This paper summarizes the MSC’s history, objectives and current situation and reviews its past researches. Also, the reasons MSC certification has not been achieved in Japan and future issues to be investigated are discussed.

     Social and cultural factors have a great influence on consumer acceptance and preference for ecolabeled seafood. As Japan is the world’s largest importer of seafood, its consumption practices greatly affect world fisheries, so the characteristics of the Japanese market should be analyzed.

     The reasons Japan has not achieved any certification to date are political in nature or due to the complexity of its fisheries distribution and fisheries cooperative systems. However, as environmental awareness of consumers and industry continues to rise, such barriers may be overcome in the near future. Environmental NGOs will increasingly play a greater role, as dialogue between industry and government is promoted.

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  • Joji MORISHITA, Dan GOODMAN
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 157-166
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     The deep philosophical and political divisions between the International Whaling Commission (IWC) member countries that support managed whaling activities and those opposed to any harvesting of whales has caused a seriously dysfunctional situation at the IWC. The IWC Scientific Committee, reflecting the division of the whole organization, has been failing to provide consensus scientific advice on important whale conservation and management issues. Strong personal positions on the issues related to whaling, the influence of national government positions on scientists and advocacy have polarized the debates within the Scientific Committee. Scientific uncertainty and the precautionary approach have often been misused to promote anti-whaling positions. Furthermore, considerable effort and energy have been spent collecting as many names as possible on working papers to demonstrate that many share a certain view with the original author. This voting-like practice gives a false impression that a larger number of co-authors means a greater plausibility of the views expressed. This dysfunctional situation not only prevents proper conservation and sustainable utilization of whale stocks but also sets a bad precedent for other natural resource management issues. The Scientific Committee and its advice are becoming increasingly irrelevant to decisions regarding the management of whales and it is legitimate to ask whether under current circumstances it is even needed. However, science has never been the real issue behind the dispute. Unless the Commission and its member governments change their institutionalized dysfunctional discourse and procedures, it is naive to expect outputs from the Scientific Committee that are useful for the sustainable use and management of whale resources in accordance with the objectives of the ICRW.

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  • Toshio TORII
    2005Volume 9Issue 2 Pages 167-174
    Published: 2005
    Released on J-STAGE: October 08, 2025
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

     The Ministry of the Environment has surveyed marine natural environments, such as tidal flats, seaweed beds, coral reefs, the situation of coastlines, the status of several marine animals, etc. However these surveys are highly limited compared with surveys of land areas. And the systems of National Parks, Nature Conservation Areas, Wildlife Protection Areas are not enough to contribute to marine ecosystem conservation. Under the circumstances that marine ecosystem conservation is one of the global environmental key issues, though each study of fishing resources has been made progress, marine ecosystem study or marine ecosystem conservation has not been enough in Japan.

     Fishing has been performed from ancient times, and fishing rights have been intricately developed in marine areas around the Japanese coast. Therefore it is very difficult to designate marine protection areas where fishing is prohibited. The new measures that integrate marine ecosystem conservation and sustainable development are strongly expected. A community-based marine management plan is considered a realistic selection, taking into account the actual conditions of Japanese coastal fishing. The plan will be achieved in agreement with local fishermen, residents and organizations, marine recreational sectors, relevant official agencies and research institutions. I believe that marine ecosystem conservation under the plan can lead to sustainable fishing that maintains and cultivates fishing resources.

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