24
2.4 Discussions
2.4.1 SES Schematic as a Boundary Object
This chapter tried to graphically summarize the main ecosystem structure, functions, use types and the stakeholders of the Sekisei Lagoon, and then link them to
the various ministries and legal basis for the policy interventions. This is a genuine
interdisciplinary work for understanding the coastal social-ecological systems
(Armitage et al. 2017). This schematic can be used as a boundary object (Star and
Griesemar 1989; Cash et al. 2003) to facilitate the knowledge exchanges among
various stakeholders, to share the common understandings of the current situation,
and to cocreate the innovative governance activities for the sustainable uses of the
Sekisei Lagoon. As Reed et al. (2014) pointed out, inclusion of the stakeholders into
the knowledge exchange scheme from the very early stage of a research project is
important and effective option for the continued motivation and engagement by the
stakeholders. Similarly, the knowledge exchange between researchers and decisionmakers is important for effectively implementing the adaptive governance of the
marine resources (Cvitanovic et al. 2015). Indeed, during the interviews about the
policy interventions, the government officers and environmental policy experts
often said to us that this SES schematic is useful to identify their administrative
jurisdictions from a wider point of view, and to understand the interrelationships
with other ministries or other sectors.
2.4.2 Integration of the Sectoral Policies and the Multilevel
Governance
It is clearly shown in Fig. 2.2 that, the ecosystem structure and functions used by a
certain stakeholder is closely connected to other structures and functions, which are
then used by other sectors. Therefore, for example, environmental policy interventions for biodiversity conservation are also important for and effective to the sustainable fisheries (Friedman et al. 2018). This is one of the strongest messages made
by the SES Schematic analysis.
Figures 2.2, 2.3, 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5 show that the majority of SES components are
covered by some sectoral policy interventions by MoE, MAFF, MLIT, and
MEXT. Therefore, all in all, sectoral policy interventions are covering the majority
of the Sekisei Lagoon SES. This is the second strongest finding from this study. It
means, the only remained task is the coordination from the viewpoint of the integrated ocean policy as a whole and the creation of the synergy effects. Theoretically,
as Table 2.1 and Figs. 2.7 and 2.8 show, the local government and the Cabinet Office
can cover most of the SES components. Therefore, to achieve the harmonization of
uses and conservation (Article 2 of the Act), local government (Okinawa Prefecture,
Ishigaki City), and the Cabinet Office (Headquarter for the Ocean Policy) can
M. Makino et al.
2.4 Discussions
2.4.1 SES Schematic as a Boundary Object
This chapter tried to graphically summarize the main ecosystem structure, functions, use types and the stakeholders of the Sekisei Lagoon, and then link them to
the various ministries and legal basis for the policy interventions. This is a genuine
interdisciplinary work for understanding the coastal social-ecological systems
(Armitage et al. 2017). This schematic can be used as a boundary object (Star and
Griesemar 1989; Cash et al. 2003) to facilitate the knowledge exchanges among
various stakeholders, to share the common understandings of the current situation,
and to cocreate the innovative governance activities for the sustainable uses of the
Sekisei Lagoon. As Reed et al. (2014) pointed out, inclusion of the stakeholders into
the knowledge exchange scheme from the very early stage of a research project is
important and effective option for the continued motivation and engagement by the
stakeholders. Similarly, the knowledge exchange between researchers and decisionmakers is important for effectively implementing the adaptive governance of the
marine resources (Cvitanovic et al. 2015). Indeed, during the interviews about the
policy interventions, the government officers and environmental policy experts
often said to us that this SES schematic is useful to identify their administrative
jurisdictions from a wider point of view, and to understand the interrelationships
with other ministries or other sectors.
2.4.2 Integration of the Sectoral Policies and the Multilevel
Governance
It is clearly shown in Fig. 2.2 that, the ecosystem structure and functions used by a
certain stakeholder is closely connected to other structures and functions, which are
then used by other sectors. Therefore, for example, environmental policy interventions for biodiversity conservation are also important for and effective to the sustainable fisheries (Friedman et al. 2018). This is one of the strongest messages made
by the SES Schematic analysis.
Figures 2.2, 2.3, 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5 show that the majority of SES components are
covered by some sectoral policy interventions by MoE, MAFF, MLIT, and
MEXT. Therefore, all in all, sectoral policy interventions are covering the majority
of the Sekisei Lagoon SES. This is the second strongest finding from this study. It
means, the only remained task is the coordination from the viewpoint of the integrated ocean policy as a whole and the creation of the synergy effects. Theoretically,
as Table 2.1 and Figs. 2.7 and 2.8 show, the local government and the Cabinet Office
can cover most of the SES components. Therefore, to achieve the harmonization of
uses and conservation (Article 2 of the Act), local government (Okinawa Prefecture,
Ishigaki City), and the Cabinet Office (Headquarter for the Ocean Policy) can
M. Makino et al.