漁業生産と水環境を森里海連環より考える

摘要

Nature of Japan is characterized by richness in both forest and ocean; 67% of land being covered by forest and having a long coastal line as 85% of the perimeter of the earth. This could suggest there may be an intimate and potential linkage between forest and marine ecosystems. This has been recognized by an oyster-culture fishermen's group and they have conducted a grassroot social movement catch-phrased by "The sea is longing for the forest" to recover and sustain oyster culture since 1989. On the other hand this idea was first accepted as an integrated research covering from the headwater to the ocean (named H to O Studies) by Kyoto University in 2003. Fisheries are fundamentally based on the natural biological production in the sea, suggesting water quality appears to be the most essential component for sustainable fisheries. Since the later half of 20th century human impacts on the sea have increased and caused serious problems particularly in coastal waters around Japan. Recent researches begin to make clear intimate connections between forest and sea in various spatial scales. When considering water environments for sustainablefisheries we should pay attention to the basic background of coastal fisheries. In this article the author introduces H to O Studiesas a basic idea for further sustainable fisheries.