329
Table 1 Areas meeting the defi nitions of MPAs
Area (system)
Purpose of designation
Description of major regulations
(1) Protection of natural scenery
Natural park (Natural Parks Law)
Protection of outstanding natural
scenery and promotion of its use
Mainly regulation on developments,
such as landfi lls (ordinary zone:
notifi cation required; marine park zone:
permission required; prohibition on
taking organisms on some areas).
Special areas (permission required)
may be set in brackish water zones
Natural coastal protected zone
(Act on Special Measures
Concerning Conservation of the
Environment
of the Seto Inland Sea)
To maintain the state of nature,
so that seashores and ponds could be
used for bathing, shellfi sh gathering,
and so forth in the future
Regulation on developments, such as
construction of new structures,
transformation of land properties,
mining of minerals, and earth and rock
quarrying (concerned prefectures
must be notifi ed)
(2) Protection of natural environment or habitats for organisms
Nature conservation area
(Nature Conservation Law)
Conservation of the outstanding
natural environment requiring
particular conservation
Regulation mainly on developments,
such as land transformation (ordinary
zone: notifi cation required; marine
special zone: permission required;
prohibition on taking organisms on
some areas)
Wildlife protection area (Wildlife
Protection and Proper Hunting Law)
Protection of wildlife
Regulation on hunting. Developments,
such as the construction of structures,
are also regulated in special protection
zones, and the use of power-driven
vessels is additionally regulated in
special protection designated zones
Natural habitat conservation
area (Law for the Conservation
of Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora)
Conservation of nationally
endangered species of wild
fauna and fl ora
Regulation on development in
monitored zones (notifi cation required).
In controlled zones, the harvest of
designated species and the use of
power-driven vessels are regulated in
addition to regulation on development
(permission required). Additionally,
access is restricted for restricted
entry zones
Natural monument (Law for the
Protection of Cultural Properties)
Protection of animals, plants,
geographic features, and minerals
of high scientifi c value
Requires permission on activities that
alter the current state or adversely affect
its conservation
(3) Protection , cultivation , etc. of aquatic animals and plants
Protected water surface (Act on the
Protection of Fishery Resources)
Protection and cultivation of aquatic
animals and plants
Development, such as landfi ll and
dredging (license system), and harvest
of designated aquatic animals and plants
are regulated for water surfaces
suitable for egg laying and growth
of juvenile fi sh
Coastline marine resource
development area, designated
sea area (Marine Fishery Resources
Development Promotion Law)
To promote the streamlining
of the development and use of
marine fi shery resources through
measures to promote stock
enhancement and aquaculture
of aquatic animals and plants
systematically
Development, such as seabed
transformation and digging, is regulated
(it must be notifi ed to the governor or
the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries). Prefectures must
formulate a “coastline marine
resource development plan”
(continued)
Regulation and Management of Marine Protected Areas in Japan
Table 1 Areas meeting the defi nitions of MPAs
Area (system)
Purpose of designation
Description of major regulations
(1) Protection of natural scenery
Natural park (Natural Parks Law)
Protection of outstanding natural
scenery and promotion of its use
Mainly regulation on developments,
such as landfi lls (ordinary zone:
notifi cation required; marine park zone:
permission required; prohibition on
taking organisms on some areas).
Special areas (permission required)
may be set in brackish water zones
Natural coastal protected zone
(Act on Special Measures
Concerning Conservation of the
Environment
of the Seto Inland Sea)
To maintain the state of nature,
so that seashores and ponds could be
used for bathing, shellfi sh gathering,
and so forth in the future
Regulation on developments, such as
construction of new structures,
transformation of land properties,
mining of minerals, and earth and rock
quarrying (concerned prefectures
must be notifi ed)
(2) Protection of natural environment or habitats for organisms
Nature conservation area
(Nature Conservation Law)
Conservation of the outstanding
natural environment requiring
particular conservation
Regulation mainly on developments,
such as land transformation (ordinary
zone: notifi cation required; marine
special zone: permission required;
prohibition on taking organisms on
some areas)
Wildlife protection area (Wildlife
Protection and Proper Hunting Law)
Protection of wildlife
Regulation on hunting. Developments,
such as the construction of structures,
are also regulated in special protection
zones, and the use of power-driven
vessels is additionally regulated in
special protection designated zones
Natural habitat conservation
area (Law for the Conservation
of Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora)
Conservation of nationally
endangered species of wild
fauna and fl ora
Regulation on development in
monitored zones (notifi cation required).
In controlled zones, the harvest of
designated species and the use of
power-driven vessels are regulated in
addition to regulation on development
(permission required). Additionally,
access is restricted for restricted
entry zones
Natural monument (Law for the
Protection of Cultural Properties)
Protection of animals, plants,
geographic features, and minerals
of high scientifi c value
Requires permission on activities that
alter the current state or adversely affect
its conservation
(3) Protection , cultivation , etc. of aquatic animals and plants
Protected water surface (Act on the
Protection of Fishery Resources)
Protection and cultivation of aquatic
animals and plants
Development, such as landfi ll and
dredging (license system), and harvest
of designated aquatic animals and plants
are regulated for water surfaces
suitable for egg laying and growth
of juvenile fi sh
Coastline marine resource
development area, designated
sea area (Marine Fishery Resources
Development Promotion Law)
To promote the streamlining
of the development and use of
marine fi shery resources through
measures to promote stock
enhancement and aquaculture
of aquatic animals and plants
systematically
Development, such as seabed
transformation and digging, is regulated
(it must be notifi ed to the governor or
the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries). Prefectures must
formulate a “coastline marine
resource development plan”
(continued)
Regulation and Management of Marine Protected Areas in Japan