328
both set a target to establish marine protected
areas (MPAs) and MPA networks, and the CBD
COP10 adopted “Aichi Biodiversity Targets”
which include the target to conserve at least 10 %
of coastal and marine areas.
Surrounded by the sea of high productivity,
Japan has used and conserved its marine areas
since the ancient times. One of the major characteristics is that the marine resources have been
managed by local users themselves, not by the
governments. As early as 757 AD, the government rules called “Yoro Code” stipulated that
“Mountains, rivers, scrubland, bogs and coastal
areas are for common use and to be managed by
local users themselves.” “Goseibai Shikimoku,”
which was the legal code of the Kamakura
shogunate, reiterated the above in 1232 AD, and
“Ritsuryo principles” of Tokugawa shogunate in
1721 AD stipulated that “Coastal areas should be
used and managed by the local communities,
while offshore areas are for common use.”
Accordingly, local fi shers have been engaged not
only in fi shery operations but also in resource
management and ecosystem conservation
(Makino 2011 ). The activities of local fi shers
may include, but not limited to, resource assessment, setting individual catch quota, and maintaining seaweed beds or coral reefs, some of
which can be regarded as the elements of MPA
management.
In the modern society of Japan, fi shery
resource is managed not only by resource users
themselves but also by the governments. Also,
there are protection measures on natural scenery
and wild fauna and fl ora including endangered
species and their habitats. These measures
include area-based conservation, but the term
“marine protected areas” was not used until
recently.
2
Process of Defi ning “Marine
Protected Areas” in Japan
In response to the global movement to promote
the establishment of MPAs, the fi rst thing Japan
did was defi ne the MPAs.
2.1
Marine Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy
The Ministry of the Environment, with the support from the panel of experts in the fi eld of
marine ecology, law of the sea, fi sheries, marine
industry, etc., formulated its “Marine Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy” in 2011.
2.1.1 Defi nition of MPAs
The “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Strategy”
contained the defi nition of MPAs as follows:
“Marine areas designated and managed by law or
other effective means, in consideration of use
modalities, aimed at the conservation of marine
biodiversity supporting the sound structure and
function of marine ecosystems and ensuring the
sustainable use of marine ecosystem services.”
In formulating this defi nition, the defi nition of
protected areas by IUCN and the defi nition of
marine protected areas by CBD were used as
references. One of the characteristics of Japan’s
defi nition is that it aimed not only at conservation
but also at ensuring the sustainable use. This is
based on the idea that sustainable use is dependent on healthy ecosystem, so that maintenance
of a healthy ecosystem is an imperative part of
sustainable use.
2.1.2 Areas Meeting the Defi nition
of MPAs
The “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Strategy”
also indicated the list of existing systems that
meet the above defi nition of MPAs (Table 1 ).
These existing systems were selected based
on the purpose of designation and the regulations
that apply. The purposes of the existing systems
can be categorized into three groups: (1) protection of natural scenery, (2) protection of natural
environment or habitats, and (3) protection and
cultivation of fi shery resources. The regulations
imposed in each area depend on the purpose, but
they regulate either development activities, taking
designated species (e.g., endangered species), or
fi shery activities. These MPAs can overlap, so that
various purposes could be fulfi lled by combining
different regulations.
N. Amako
both set a target to establish marine protected
areas (MPAs) and MPA networks, and the CBD
COP10 adopted “Aichi Biodiversity Targets”
which include the target to conserve at least 10 %
of coastal and marine areas.
Surrounded by the sea of high productivity,
Japan has used and conserved its marine areas
since the ancient times. One of the major characteristics is that the marine resources have been
managed by local users themselves, not by the
governments. As early as 757 AD, the government rules called “Yoro Code” stipulated that
“Mountains, rivers, scrubland, bogs and coastal
areas are for common use and to be managed by
local users themselves.” “Goseibai Shikimoku,”
which was the legal code of the Kamakura
shogunate, reiterated the above in 1232 AD, and
“Ritsuryo principles” of Tokugawa shogunate in
1721 AD stipulated that “Coastal areas should be
used and managed by the local communities,
while offshore areas are for common use.”
Accordingly, local fi shers have been engaged not
only in fi shery operations but also in resource
management and ecosystem conservation
(Makino 2011 ). The activities of local fi shers
may include, but not limited to, resource assessment, setting individual catch quota, and maintaining seaweed beds or coral reefs, some of
which can be regarded as the elements of MPA
management.
In the modern society of Japan, fi shery
resource is managed not only by resource users
themselves but also by the governments. Also,
there are protection measures on natural scenery
and wild fauna and fl ora including endangered
species and their habitats. These measures
include area-based conservation, but the term
“marine protected areas” was not used until
recently.
2
Process of Defi ning “Marine
Protected Areas” in Japan
In response to the global movement to promote
the establishment of MPAs, the fi rst thing Japan
did was defi ne the MPAs.
2.1
Marine Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy
The Ministry of the Environment, with the support from the panel of experts in the fi eld of
marine ecology, law of the sea, fi sheries, marine
industry, etc., formulated its “Marine Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy” in 2011.
2.1.1 Defi nition of MPAs
The “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Strategy”
contained the defi nition of MPAs as follows:
“Marine areas designated and managed by law or
other effective means, in consideration of use
modalities, aimed at the conservation of marine
biodiversity supporting the sound structure and
function of marine ecosystems and ensuring the
sustainable use of marine ecosystem services.”
In formulating this defi nition, the defi nition of
protected areas by IUCN and the defi nition of
marine protected areas by CBD were used as
references. One of the characteristics of Japan’s
defi nition is that it aimed not only at conservation
but also at ensuring the sustainable use. This is
based on the idea that sustainable use is dependent on healthy ecosystem, so that maintenance
of a healthy ecosystem is an imperative part of
sustainable use.
2.1.2 Areas Meeting the Defi nition
of MPAs
The “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Strategy”
also indicated the list of existing systems that
meet the above defi nition of MPAs (Table 1 ).
These existing systems were selected based
on the purpose of designation and the regulations
that apply. The purposes of the existing systems
can be categorized into three groups: (1) protection of natural scenery, (2) protection of natural
environment or habitats, and (3) protection and
cultivation of fi shery resources. The regulations
imposed in each area depend on the purpose, but
they regulate either development activities, taking
designated species (e.g., endangered species), or
fi shery activities. These MPAs can overlap, so that
various purposes could be fulfi lled by combining
different regulations.
N. Amako