On International Marine Environment Symposium 2008

Until I was appointed the executive director of Greenpeace Japan, I had lived on Yaku Island, which is a registered Natural World Heritage Site with UNESCO, in Kagoshima Prefecture for more than twenty years. My home and farmland are still there, and my son makes a living as a fisherman on the island.

Yaku Island is said to be, true or not, the second rainiest place in Japan. Nurtured with the abundant rainfall, it is an island of water and green. The rich marine ecosystem was lively where pure water runs into the ocean; however, despite the impression of being a natural sanctuary, coastal seaweeds died out during the period of high economic growth, and actually, "desertification"of the ocean is progressing more rapidly than in other regions. Coral bleaching due to global warming is not a distant problem there. Together with the skyrocketing price of crude oil, it seems it is difficult for my son's generation to continue to be a fisherman.

In recent few years, the custom of eating fish spreads at surprising speed worldwide, and competition for highly priced fishes started among countries around the world. Overfishing of fishes and shellfishes is overwhelmingly accelerating driven by excessive demand.

A scientist warns that fish will disappear from the dinner table by 2048 while another scientist forecasts that desertification of the ocean will progress at a more rapid rate because of climate change.

What can we do to protect the marine ecosystem and Japanese fish food culture from overhunting and climate changes? We host this symposium to consider the answer to the question and to create an opportunity to move forward with an effective measure.

We are hoping for many participants to let them know of the current marine status.

June 1, 2008

Jun Hoshikawa, Executive Director of Greenpeace Japan

• Major species of tuna, cod, and flounder have decreased by about ninety-percent in the past half century worldwide. (i)
• Bluefin tuna decreased so much that there have been frequent talks about designating the species as CITES protected species, which will inhibit trade internationally. Southern bluefin tuna is now less than 10% of the intact state. (ii)
• Great white sharks are projected to decrease by 80% in about twenty years, and hammerhead sharks by 90%. (iii)
• Squids and octopuses are overhunted in many waters, and eels may not survive to our grandchildren�fs generation. (iv)

As a simultaneous solution for protecting the marine ecosystem and creating a sustainable fishery, the establishment of appropriate protected marine areas and constructing a global network are attracting attention. By designating egg laying and migrating areas, the most important areas for the hunted species, as protected area, we can prevent indiscriminate and illegal fishing. The validity of protected marine areas is demonstrated in many locations, including the Great Barrier Reef, Apo Island in the Philippines, the Red Sea, and Hawaii.

The sustainable use of marine resources can be realized by designating 40% of the high sea as a protected marine area and managing fisheries in an appropriate manner in the remaining 60% to conserve the ecosystem. Greenpeace Japan also believes that if appropriate protected marine areas are established in the Japan EEZ �iexclusive economic zone�j and managed, it will lead to the rejuvenation of a deteriorated Japanese coastal fishery.