64
data for TEAMS. TEAMS has been constructing a database of research
information that will be accessible to the fi shing industry, local residents,
and researchers. The main objective of TEAMS is to facilitate reconstruction of the coastal environment and fi sheries in the Tohoku area.
1
Introduction
On 11 March 2011, the fi fth most powerful earthquake in recorded history occurred off the northeastern (Tohoku) Pacifi c coastal area of Japan
known as the Sanriku Coast. Now known as the
Great East Japan Earthquake (or Tohoku-Oki
Earthquake), it was a moment magnitude (Mw)
9.0 undersea megathrust-type earthquake with its
epicenter approximately 70 km east of the Oshika
Peninsula in Miyagi Prefecture. The focal region
inferred from the distribution of aftershocks
stretches approximately 400–500 km long by
200 km wide offshore (Sato et al. 2011 ). This
earthquake caused several huge tsunamis that
which reached heights of up to 40 m at Miyako in
Iwate Prefecture and traveled up to 10 km inland
at Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. These tsunamis
seriously damaged towns, villages, ports, and
boats in the coastal areas. Approximately 20,000
people were confi rmed as dead or are still missing. This earthquake and the ensuing tsunami are
one of the greatest natural disasters ever experienced in Japan (Kahoku Shimpo 2011 ; Ozawa
et al. 2011 ; Sagiya 2011 ; Suzuki 2011 ; Tsuji
2011 ).
In addition, the tsunami-related nuclear accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power
plant (Fukushima Daiichi NPP) in Fukushima
Prefecture resulted in the release of large
amounts of radioactive substances into the
environment, including highly contaminated
cooling water that was released into the ocean.
An estimated 3.5–27 petabecquerels of radioactive substances were released into the Pacifi c
(Kahoku Shimpo 2011 ; Yoshida and Kanda
2012 ; Normile 2013b ; Motojima 2014 ).
Although the radioactive level in marine epipelagic fi sh has been decreasing after the nuclear
accident, the radioactive level in marine demersal and freshwater fi sh has been increasing
(Yokota and Kikkawa 2013 ). Levels of radioactive contaminants in fi sh and shellfi sh have
mostly been below the under minimum detection limits (Sakurai et al. 2012 ).
The northwest Pacifi c is one of the major fi shing areas in the world, and the Sanriku Coast is
recognized as one of the largest seafoodproducing areas in Japan. Many communities in
Tohoku coastal areas rely on marine products and
fi sheries industries. Accordingly, it is important
to reconstruct the coastal fi sheries industry in
these disaster-stricken areas, such as Sanriku.
However, the effects of the disaster caused by the
earthquake and tsunamis on marine ecosystems
are unknown, including the effects of large
amounts of debris, subsidence, contamination
caused by oil spills and radioactive substances
release, and the loss of seaweed beds. The impact
of the earthquake and tsunami on the Sanriku
area and the subsequent processes of transition
over time are yet to be determined, although such
information is vital to effectively restore the fi shing industry.
Furthermore, other recent disasters, such as
the northern Sumatra (Indian Ocean) earthquake
and tsunami in 2004 and super typhoon Haiyan
(Yolanda) around Philippine island in 2013,
were also known to cause serious damage to
living environments and marine ecosystems.
Accordingly, it is important to record and determine the effects of natural disasters on ecosystems and the subsequent processes of transition
for restoration and optimal use of ecosystem
services.
Various research projects have been underway
to understand the mechanism of occurrence of
this massive earthquake and to reconstruct
disaster- stricken areas in Japan. Tohoku
Ecosystem-Associated
Marine
Sciences
(TEAMS) is a national project to observe marine
ecosystem change after the Great East Japan
T. Nakano
data for TEAMS. TEAMS has been constructing a database of research
information that will be accessible to the fi shing industry, local residents,
and researchers. The main objective of TEAMS is to facilitate reconstruction of the coastal environment and fi sheries in the Tohoku area.
1
Introduction
On 11 March 2011, the fi fth most powerful earthquake in recorded history occurred off the northeastern (Tohoku) Pacifi c coastal area of Japan
known as the Sanriku Coast. Now known as the
Great East Japan Earthquake (or Tohoku-Oki
Earthquake), it was a moment magnitude (Mw)
9.0 undersea megathrust-type earthquake with its
epicenter approximately 70 km east of the Oshika
Peninsula in Miyagi Prefecture. The focal region
inferred from the distribution of aftershocks
stretches approximately 400–500 km long by
200 km wide offshore (Sato et al. 2011 ). This
earthquake caused several huge tsunamis that
which reached heights of up to 40 m at Miyako in
Iwate Prefecture and traveled up to 10 km inland
at Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. These tsunamis
seriously damaged towns, villages, ports, and
boats in the coastal areas. Approximately 20,000
people were confi rmed as dead or are still missing. This earthquake and the ensuing tsunami are
one of the greatest natural disasters ever experienced in Japan (Kahoku Shimpo 2011 ; Ozawa
et al. 2011 ; Sagiya 2011 ; Suzuki 2011 ; Tsuji
2011 ).
In addition, the tsunami-related nuclear accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power
plant (Fukushima Daiichi NPP) in Fukushima
Prefecture resulted in the release of large
amounts of radioactive substances into the
environment, including highly contaminated
cooling water that was released into the ocean.
An estimated 3.5–27 petabecquerels of radioactive substances were released into the Pacifi c
(Kahoku Shimpo 2011 ; Yoshida and Kanda
2012 ; Normile 2013b ; Motojima 2014 ).
Although the radioactive level in marine epipelagic fi sh has been decreasing after the nuclear
accident, the radioactive level in marine demersal and freshwater fi sh has been increasing
(Yokota and Kikkawa 2013 ). Levels of radioactive contaminants in fi sh and shellfi sh have
mostly been below the under minimum detection limits (Sakurai et al. 2012 ).
The northwest Pacifi c is one of the major fi shing areas in the world, and the Sanriku Coast is
recognized as one of the largest seafoodproducing areas in Japan. Many communities in
Tohoku coastal areas rely on marine products and
fi sheries industries. Accordingly, it is important
to reconstruct the coastal fi sheries industry in
these disaster-stricken areas, such as Sanriku.
However, the effects of the disaster caused by the
earthquake and tsunamis on marine ecosystems
are unknown, including the effects of large
amounts of debris, subsidence, contamination
caused by oil spills and radioactive substances
release, and the loss of seaweed beds. The impact
of the earthquake and tsunami on the Sanriku
area and the subsequent processes of transition
over time are yet to be determined, although such
information is vital to effectively restore the fi shing industry.
Furthermore, other recent disasters, such as
the northern Sumatra (Indian Ocean) earthquake
and tsunami in 2004 and super typhoon Haiyan
(Yolanda) around Philippine island in 2013,
were also known to cause serious damage to
living environments and marine ecosystems.
Accordingly, it is important to record and determine the effects of natural disasters on ecosystems and the subsequent processes of transition
for restoration and optimal use of ecosystem
services.
Various research projects have been underway
to understand the mechanism of occurrence of
this massive earthquake and to reconstruct
disaster- stricken areas in Japan. Tohoku
Ecosystem-Associated
Marine
Sciences
(TEAMS) is a national project to observe marine
ecosystem change after the Great East Japan
T. Nakano