Biodiversity Conservation, Law and Livelihoods: Bridging the North-South Divide Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Message from Kofi A. Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Macquarie Statement
- Contributors
- Introduction
- PART ONE THE CONTEXT
- PART TWO BIODIVERSITY: ITS CONSERVATION
- PART THREE CONSERVATION MEASURES
- 11 The Recent NSW Experience, from Regional Forest Agreements to Brigalow and the Introduction of the Community Conservation Area
- 12 Local People's Perceptions and Attitudes towards the Management of Nech-Sar National Park, Ethiopia
- 13 Japanese MPAs at a Turning Point: Nomination of Shiretoko for World Heritage Status
- 14 Ten Years of Threatened Species Legislation in NSW – What Are the Lessons?
- 15 Sanctuaries, Protected Species, and Politics – How Effective Is Australia at Protecting Its Marine Biodiversity under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999?
- 16 Legal Stewardship of Mountain Regions: The Emerging Ecoregime
- PART FOUR USES OF COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY
- PART FIVE PROCESSES AFFECTING BIODIVERSITY
- PART SIX BIOSECURITY ISSUES
- PART SEVEN ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING
- Index
13 - Japanese MPAs at a Turning Point: Nomination of Shiretoko for World Heritage Status
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 July 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Message from Kofi A. Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Macquarie Statement
- Contributors
- Introduction
- PART ONE THE CONTEXT
- PART TWO BIODIVERSITY: ITS CONSERVATION
- PART THREE CONSERVATION MEASURES
- 11 The Recent NSW Experience, from Regional Forest Agreements to Brigalow and the Introduction of the Community Conservation Area
- 12 Local People's Perceptions and Attitudes towards the Management of Nech-Sar National Park, Ethiopia
- 13 Japanese MPAs at a Turning Point: Nomination of Shiretoko for World Heritage Status
- 14 Ten Years of Threatened Species Legislation in NSW – What Are the Lessons?
- 15 Sanctuaries, Protected Species, and Politics – How Effective Is Australia at Protecting Its Marine Biodiversity under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999?
- 16 Legal Stewardship of Mountain Regions: The Emerging Ecoregime
- PART FOUR USES OF COMPONENTS OF BIODIVERSITY
- PART FIVE PROCESSES AFFECTING BIODIVERSITY
- PART SIX BIOSECURITY ISSUES
- PART SEVEN ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING
- Index
Summary
INTRODUCTION
This study explores recent trends in Japanese Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The most common definition of a Marine Protected Area is:
Any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying waters and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment. (Resolution by 17th General Assembly of the World Conservation Union [IUCN], 17.38, 1994)
As Graeme Kelleher has correctly pointed out in the Guidelines for Marine Protected Areas, this definition of MPA “does not state that an MPA should keep people out.” An MPA is not a “fence” in the sea but a marine management tool to help preserve ecosystems/biodiversity and sustainable development (in particular, fishery). It is vital to keep in mind that establishing an MPA never blocks fishery.
However, Japanese fishers often misinterpret MPAs as no-take zones, causing them to object strongly to their establishment. This is also the case with the Japanese government; in Japanese fishery diplomacy, the fishery agency considered an MPA that expanded into the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or even into the high seas to be an area that could prevent fishing operations.
An MPA is not a no-take zone; the broad spectrum of MPA management approaches (which can include no-take areas) is key to sustaining resources, safeguarding ecosystem functions and biodiversity, or providing a framework to support the use of resources and space with minimal conflict.
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- Biodiversity Conservation, Law and Livelihoods: Bridging the North-South DivideIUCN Academy of Environmental Law Research Studies, pp. 251 - 264Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008