Japan’s Initiatives for UN Decade of Ocean Science

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

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

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

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

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

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

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