15
2.3 Results
Figure 2.2 is the Sekisei Lagoon SES Schematic developed by the authors. It shows
that the ecosystem functions in the coastal areas, in which the reef building corals
locate, are closely linked to the land, intertidal, and the offshore ecosystems. For
example, juvenile fish grew up in the nursery ground at the intertidal area, which is
under the heavy influences from the land discharges, and then inhabit to the coral
reef areas where fisheries operations are conducted. Also, it shows the wide-ranging
ecosystem functions have been utilized by various use types and stakeholders. For
example, fisheries sector (fishers, processors, retailers, etc.) are relying on the ecosystem functions such as nursery ground, spawning ground, feeding area, etc., for
harvesting fish. The same functions are also utilized by other sectors such as the
tourism sector.
Table 2.1 summarized the government bodies, legal basis (acts), and their target
components in the Sekisei Lagoon SES Schematic. There are more than 50 acts
under the charge of at least five ministries and local government (Okinawa Prefecture
and Ishigaki City). Note that, the policy measures relating to the MoD, are important, but not directly relating to the ecosystem of the Sekisei Lagoon. Therefore,
they are excluded from this analysis. Also, there is a territorial issue in Ishigaki City,
and therefore policy interventions by the MFA are important, but it was excluded
based on the same reason. METI is mainly in charge of the marine renewable energy
development such as offshore wind power, or sea bottom resource development
such as submarine manganese nodules or cobalt-rich crust, both of them are not
existing around the Sekisei Lagoon at the moment. MIC is mainly in charge of the
information and communication technologies for vessels or communities in the
remoted islands, which is again not the case in the Sekisei Lagoon.
Finally, Figs. 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, and 2.8 graphically summarized the coverage
of each sectoral policy interventions on the SES Schematic. The dark color shows
the direct and stronger relationships (double circles in Table 2.1), while light color
shows the indirect and weaker relationships (single circles in Table 2.1). The characteristics of each sectoral policy are clearly illustrated. For example, MAFF measures (Fig. 2.4) are targeting the ecosystem functions and structures directly relating
to the fisheries resources and agriculture on land, while MoE measures (Fig. 2.3) are
more about the water quality or waste/soil management, as well as the nature restoration activities for coral reefs such as the management of the “Sekisei Lagoon
Nature Restoration Committee”. MLIT (Fig. 2.5) is in charge of tourism and transport, as well as the land development on the island. As shown in Fig. 2.6, MEXT’s
main policy target is research, education, monitoring, and the conservation of the
natural/cultural monuments. The Cabinet Office (Fig. 2.8) are covering almost all
part of the SES based on the national-scale plans or strategies such as Ocean Basic
Plan, Marine Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, Okinawa Promotion and
Development Plan, etc. Similarly, the local government has similar plans/strategies
and covering almost all the SES components (Fig. 2.7).
2 Mapping the Policy Interventions on Marine Social-Ecological Systems: Case Study…
2.3 Results
Figure 2.2 is the Sekisei Lagoon SES Schematic developed by the authors. It shows
that the ecosystem functions in the coastal areas, in which the reef building corals
locate, are closely linked to the land, intertidal, and the offshore ecosystems. For
example, juvenile fish grew up in the nursery ground at the intertidal area, which is
under the heavy influences from the land discharges, and then inhabit to the coral
reef areas where fisheries operations are conducted. Also, it shows the wide-ranging
ecosystem functions have been utilized by various use types and stakeholders. For
example, fisheries sector (fishers, processors, retailers, etc.) are relying on the ecosystem functions such as nursery ground, spawning ground, feeding area, etc., for
harvesting fish. The same functions are also utilized by other sectors such as the
tourism sector.
Table 2.1 summarized the government bodies, legal basis (acts), and their target
components in the Sekisei Lagoon SES Schematic. There are more than 50 acts
under the charge of at least five ministries and local government (Okinawa Prefecture
and Ishigaki City). Note that, the policy measures relating to the MoD, are important, but not directly relating to the ecosystem of the Sekisei Lagoon. Therefore,
they are excluded from this analysis. Also, there is a territorial issue in Ishigaki City,
and therefore policy interventions by the MFA are important, but it was excluded
based on the same reason. METI is mainly in charge of the marine renewable energy
development such as offshore wind power, or sea bottom resource development
such as submarine manganese nodules or cobalt-rich crust, both of them are not
existing around the Sekisei Lagoon at the moment. MIC is mainly in charge of the
information and communication technologies for vessels or communities in the
remoted islands, which is again not the case in the Sekisei Lagoon.
Finally, Figs. 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, and 2.8 graphically summarized the coverage
of each sectoral policy interventions on the SES Schematic. The dark color shows
the direct and stronger relationships (double circles in Table 2.1), while light color
shows the indirect and weaker relationships (single circles in Table 2.1). The characteristics of each sectoral policy are clearly illustrated. For example, MAFF measures (Fig. 2.4) are targeting the ecosystem functions and structures directly relating
to the fisheries resources and agriculture on land, while MoE measures (Fig. 2.3) are
more about the water quality or waste/soil management, as well as the nature restoration activities for coral reefs such as the management of the “Sekisei Lagoon
Nature Restoration Committee”. MLIT (Fig. 2.5) is in charge of tourism and transport, as well as the land development on the island. As shown in Fig. 2.6, MEXT’s
main policy target is research, education, monitoring, and the conservation of the
natural/cultural monuments. The Cabinet Office (Fig. 2.8) are covering almost all
part of the SES based on the national-scale plans or strategies such as Ocean Basic
Plan, Marine Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, Okinawa Promotion and
Development Plan, etc. Similarly, the local government has similar plans/strategies
and covering almost all the SES components (Fig. 2.7).
2 Mapping the Policy Interventions on Marine Social-Ecological Systems: Case Study…