Japan’s Initiatives for UN Decade of Ocean Science

Introduction

 

A clean ocean

  • Promoting measures to deal with marine litter and ocean plastic waste
  • Change for the Blue, a project of comprehensive measures for dealing with marine litter
  • Cross-sectoral marine plastics research conducted as part of the Japan-Palau Goodwill Yacht Race
  • Large-scale open-ocean survey of microplastics
  • For the environmental conservation and suitability of enclosed coastal seas

A healthy and resilient ocean

  • International contributions to the conservation of coastal ecosystems
  • Marine biotechnology targeting marine environmental bacteria
  • Promoting polar research
  • International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI)
  • Research on the vision of the country in the twenty-first century from the perspective of the ocean
  • Research for effective management of ships’ biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species

A productive ocean

  • Certification program and eco-labeling for sustainable fisheries
  • Marine Eco-Label Japan (MEL)
  • SH “U” N project
  • Blue Seafood Guide
  • Promoting initiatives to eradicate IUU fishing
  • Indonesian coastal fishing village project based on ODA provided by the government of Japan
  • Technology development program to promote the use of marine resources
  • IoT and AI proof-of-concept testing for tuna aquaculture farming operations
  • Aquaculture farming efficiency improvement project to help restore mackerel populations

A predictable ocean

  • Argo Program
  • Problem solving by taking integrated approach towards understanding the current status of global environmental change and predicting the future
  • Research and development for the Sustainability Initiative in the Marginal Seas of South and East Asia (SIMSEA)
  • Ocean Prediction for Coastal Fisheries around Kyushu Island
  • Undersea weather forecasting system for which satellite data have been assimilate
  • Kuroshio/Oyashio Watch, an initiative for forecasting ocean conditions along the coast of Japan
  • Support system for the operation and management of work vessels for which meteorological and hydrographic conditions are taken into account

A safe ocean

  • Northwest Pacific Tsunami Information Center
  • Monitoring of Waves on Land and Seafloor (MOWLAS)
  • Seafloor geodetic observation to elucidate the mechanism of megathrust earthquakes
  • Realizing a safe ocean through research and development on seismic and volcanic activities in ocean areas
  • Academic research on the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
  • Contributing to coastal disaster prevention with the provision of detailed information on ocean currents and seawater temperatures
  • Predicting the occurrence of red tides through the use of satellite images

An accessible ocean

  • Operations of the Japan Oceanographic Data Center
  • Hydrographic observations along the 137°E meridian
  • Satellite observation of the ocean environment and the release of observation data
  • Effective operation and improving the function of MDA Situational Indication Linkages (MSIL)
  • Developing and promoting cross-sectoral synergy-creating wind farm technology
  • Utilizing and conserving coastal and remote island sea areas through next-generation oceanic mobility
  • Accumulating and disseminating research data at the Global Oceanographic Data Center (GODAC)
  • Marine research facilities along the Japanese coast: marine biological laboratories, fisheries research stations, and more

An inspiring and engaging ocean

  • Comparative research on wellbeing as derived from the ocean in six north Pacific countries
  • Marine Open Innovation Project (MaOI Project)
  • Cultivating human resources in the field of ocean science
  • UNESCO-associated schools
  • Ocean Education Pioneer School Program
  • Organizing a project for the formation of ocean education research centers and holding the National Ocean Literacy and Education Summit