ABSTRACT : We surveyed characteristics and conditions of the Japanese cockles discarded in the small-scale bottom trawls operating in the Hiuchi-nada, eastern Seto-Inland Sea. Experiments were done to clarify the criteria for selecting discarded shells that could be used as the seedlings in the aquaculture. In addition, a “compact culture” was carried out in the underused Muromoto Fishing Port located in Kanonji, Kagawa Prefecture, using small discarded cockles as the seedlings and old idle fisheries equipment. The fishery survey showed that the small cockles that do not reach landing size are fished mainly between March and October, when autumn-born and spring-born cohorts reach catchable sizes. Many of the shells caught by a sledge net after December were heavily damaged, resulting in low survival rates when used as the seedlings. The survival rate of undamaged shells may also decrease in the summer when water temperature approaches annual peak. The results show that the undamaged or slightly cracked shells should be selected as the seedlings, while shells with heavy damages are unsuited. Ninety percent of the Japanese cockles cultured in the Muromoto Fishing Port reached the landing size, insisting that the “compact culture” employing discarded shells as the seedlings are judged to be feasible.

ABSTRACT : Coastal ecosystem is extensively affected by land reclamation of coasts and sediment inflow from land, and coral reefs are also affected by them. Although "development" and "environment" are regarded as conflicting and incompatible, it is not the axis of confrontation between development and environment, but coexisting measures are desired. We conducted field survey on the artificial reef at Hamasaki coast in Motobu, Okinawa where corals are growing in good condition. The study purposes to clarify characteristics of coral distribution, flow velocity, water quality, and sediment around the artificial reef. The results showed that the coral cover rate and habitat coral type differ depending on the position of artificial reef, and the amount of sediment and the rapid flow characteristic which appears during the lower low water may affect to coral distribution. The water quality environment around the artificial reef can provide good condition for coral habitats.

ABSTRACT : As a super-aging society is approaching the country, Japan recognizes the urgent need to sustain local communities including farming, forestry, and fishing villages. “Associated populations” have been regarded as one of the potential solutions to tackle this issue and are gaining notable social attention these days. However, few empirical study has been conducted on this phenomenon yet. This study, therefore, aims to show the empirical figures of associated populations and discuss what they mean in the context of contemporary Japanese society. National level survey (N=5,000) showed that 40.4% of sample answered that they have specific community to which they think are “associated”. The most frequently answered association was kinship/life-stage based ones but there were also many other answers indicating non-kinship/life-stage based association through which people are showing high levels of place attachment with the communities. Notably, results also found that there are many people who have very low place attachment with communities based on kinship/life-stage. This study indicated that the people-local communities relations vary from negative to positive regardless of kinship ties. We suggest that it is important to develop the understandings on the “quality” of the relationship between people and local communities rather than pursuing the “quantity” of either residential/associated/touristic population, for the more meaningful policy discussion over community revitalization.

ABSTRACT: In 2002, paralytic shellfish toxin surpassing criteria for food safety was first detected in shellfish from coastal area along Osaka prefecture. Generally, operators of clamming parks voluntarily refrain from opening parks to prevent shellfish poisoning cases. At clamming parks in Osaka, however, they keep opening parks by purchasing non-toxic clams and exchanging the non-toxic ones from those collected by clammers. This paper: i) investigated operational procedures and influence of shellfish toxin on the clamming parks, ii) clarified quantitative and qualitative trends of newspaper articles, and iii) interpreted social evaluation on the food safety measures taken at the parks. Semi-structured interviews to stakeholders revealed that thorough management of both clams and visitors resulted in no record of poisoning cases from the parks, which led to no impose of self-closure on the park operators. There have been a given number of articles referring to the food safety measures favorably in spite of decreasing trend of the articles on paralytic shellfish toxin. Based on the above results, food safety measures taken at the clamming parks are considered acceptable for society. Influence of paralytic shellfish toxin on number of visitors of the parks has been less these days in Osaka. Future study is necessary to explore people’s perception and valuation on clamming parks and their safety measures to consider possibility of introducing the measures to other coastal areas.