Secretariat of the CBD Technical Series No. 61 Convention on Biological Diversity BIOLOGICAL61 AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES Exploring the Potential of Satoumi for Implementing the Ecosystem Approach in the Japanese Archipelago CBD Technical Series No. 61 Biological and Cultural Diversity in Coastal Communities Exploring the Potential of Satoumi for Implementing the Ecosystem Approach in the Japanese Archipelago Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. ISBN: 92-9225-384-0 Copyright © 2011, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Convention on Biological Diversity nor those of the reviewers. This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of any publications that uses this document as a source. Citation United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (2011). Biological and Cultural Diversity in Coastal Communities, Exploring the Potential of Satoumi for Implementing the Ecosystem Approach in the Japanese Archipelago. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Technical Series no. 61. For further information, please contact: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity World Trade Centre 413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9 Phone: 1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: 1 (514) 288 6588 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.cbd.int Cover photos, top to bottom: © David Devlin; © Anne McDonald; © Anne McDonald; © Go Tabinuki Back cover: © Go Tabinuki Typesetting: Em Dash Design ACknowledgEmEnts This document was produced with the financial support of the Prefecture of Ishikawa and the City of Kanazawa, Japan. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity wishes to acknowledge with appreciation the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK) for editing this document, and would like to thank the authors and photographers who contributed to this report and the organisations that collaborated in its preparations. In addition, UNU-IAS OUIK expresses its gratitude for the editing and coordination of this effort to, in alphabetical order: Joannès Berque, Jacqueline Grekin, Atsuko Hasegawa, Jihyun Lee, Anne McDonald, Osamu Matsuda, Yoshitaka Ota and Marjo Vierros. Biological and Cultural Diversity in Coastal Communities Contents Foreword by the exeCutive seCretary oF the CBD .................................................... v Foreword by the Governor oF ishikawa PreFeCture ................................................ vi exeCutive summary ........................................................................................ vii I. IntroDuctory Articles 1. RelevanCe oF satoumi to the CBD mandate ........................................................ 3 2. MainstreaminG satoumi in JaPanese national PoliCy: introduCtion to the Case studies ................................................................... 8 II. Case STudies 1. Shiretoko: exPandinG Fisheries Co-manaGement to eCosystem-based manaGement ... 18 2. satoumi to inteGrate resourCe Conservation and use: sandFish Fisheries in akita PreFeCture .................................................................................... 24 3. Fisher aCtivities to Conserve the eCosystem oF toyama bay ................................. 30 Box 1: Uotsukirin — The Fish-Breeding Forest .................................................. 36 4. Multi-stakeholder dialoGue initiatives in nanao bay ........................................ 38 Box 2: Oyster shell nurseries – using aquaculture waste for biodiversity management . 41 5. The ama-san oF heGura island: CarryinG on the traditions oF her anCestors—over 1,400 years oF Community-based resourCe manaGement .............. 46 Box 3: Agehama-style salt making traditions in Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture . 49 6. satoumi at work: an urban ProJeCt in tokyo .................................................... 54 Box 4: Partnership for environmental education and ecosystem restoration: The case of eelgrass bed reestablishment .................................................................. 60 7. Towards satoumi in Ago bay ......................................................................... 62 8. MobilizinG loCal wisdom and sCientiFiC knowledGe: re-CreatinG eelGrass beds in okayama ........................................................................................ 70 9. Tidal Flat restoration in the yamaGuChi estuary .............................................. 76 Box 5: Ecological links between terrestrial and coastal areas in the Yura river estuary and the Tango Sea ................................................................................ 84 10. Okinawa: EfFeCtive Conservation PraCtiCes From satoumi in a Coral reeF eCosystem ............................................................................... 86 III. ovErview Articles 1. satoumi and institutional CharaCteristiCs oF JaPanese Coastal Fishery manaGement .................................................................................. 96 Box 6: Kisetsu-sadame ........................................................................ 99 2. Synthesis: emerGinG satoumi PraCtiCes For biodiversity manaGement in human inFluenCed Coastal eCosystems ......................................................... 102 iii Biological and Cultural Diversity in Coastal Communities Foreword From the exeCutive seCretary oF the CBD Like many, I was deeply distressed and sorrowed by the tragedy that fell on the Northeastern Japanese coast this year. The global community was shocked by the demon- stration of human fragility before wrathful seas, and humbled by the dignity of the coastal communities that collectively withstood the unleashed violence of nature. “Collective” is a word that comes to mind throughout this edition of the CBD Technical Series on satoumi. Our planet is endowed with beautiful coastal land- scapes, hosting a great diversity of life and providing abundant resources that are vital to many countries. Over a third of the world population lives within 100 km of the shoreline, and this proportion is growing rapidly. Communities among the most vulnerable depend crit- ically on these ecosystems, whose degradation would directly threaten many livelihoods. Coastal ecosystems provide a multitude of indispensible services to industrialised economies as well; the economic evaluation of such services is difficult but invariably yields daunting figures. Finally, coastal biodiversity harbours vast, yet unexplored resources that should be preserved for future generations. Regrettably, study after study confirms that this heritage is under threat due to the rapid decline in the biodiver- sity of coastal ecosystems. Our shores are a strategic frontline in the global biodiversity crisis. But conserving biodiversity in coastal areas is particularly challenging, one reason being the ever-increasing demand for coastal space from a variety of users. Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognise the importance of effectively protecting our coasts. Of utmost importance as well is to better manage biodiver- sity in coastal seas where human influence is significant, because of their geographical extent, the biodiversity they harbour, and their connectedness and influence on protected areas. Developing and exchanging good practices will be essential to successfully address this challenge. Satoumi, as an experience capitalising on traditional coastal cultures for management in a modern context, is a welcome contribution to the growing knowledge base in this field. The case studies in this report show that valuable improvements to the management of biodiversity in human-influenced coastal ecosystems are possible while satisfying the needs of various sectors. I hope that reporting on these practices will foster fruitful exchanges between coastal communities facing similar challenges around the world. I would like to thank the researchers that have contributed to this report, the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, the Government of Japan and the Prefecture of Ishikawa, whose support to this edition of the CBD Technical Series is an inspiring show of commitment to help address the biodiversity crisis, from the host country to the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties and President of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention. As Japan bequeathed to the world the word “tsunami” to describe the destructive might of seas, so perhaps the word “satoumi” may remain to describe the peaceful harmony that can also exist between communities and their sea. Ahmed Djoghlaf Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity v CBD Technical Series No. 61 Foreword From the Governor oF ishikawa PreFeCture I still vividly remember the day in April 2008 when the United Nations University Institute of Advanced