Coastal Hydrosphere

How citizens can be involved in coastal conservation: cases from Japan

Midori Kawabe, Institute of Socio-economic Planning, University of Tsukuba

There are two broad areas of concern over the coastal environment near the cities in Japan; one is the plain and straightened shoreline, after land-fills and being covered with artificial reefs as a result of massive reclamation, and the other is organic contamination of the coastal water, caused by active photosynthesis of phytoplankton supported by affluent nutrients discharged from the catchment area.

In recent years, the national government of Japan, after many years of ignoring the importance of sound management of the coastal environment, finally seems to be incorporating an environmental perspective in their policy. Although the necessity for focused coastal zone management (CZM), in conjunction with rigorous conservation policy, cannot be stressed enough to avoid further degradation of the coastal environment in Japan, I also recommend that thorough discussion be held in advance of any CZM proposal. Such discussion should include issues such as:
1) the most suitable initiatiating institution of the CZM,
2) how to recycle materials within the coastal zone towards zero-emissions,
3) how to involve citizens in the policy-decision,
4) how to include coastal fishers in the managerial framework, and
how to reach agreement on the goalof the CZM.

Achieving "Public Trust" and a project assessment system by a third party should be prerequisites.

While these issues seem to have been overlooked and left without discussion by governmental institutions, a number of citizens and coastal fishers have been seeking ways to realize a sustainable coast. Their activities have become more powerful than ever since 1990s and may be more appropriate to be addressed as "stewardship" rather than "management." The citizens' activities can be categorized into direct and indirect methods. The typical direct method is the traditional way of conserving the environment by appealing to its public importance, which would sometimes grow to law suits. The indirect methods include "green consumption" and "blue tourism", in which citizens, by consuming products and services, support the fishers who have been taking good care of the coastal environment and marine resources. Some of these activities hint at solutions to the issues raised above.