1. Environmental changes in Ariake Sea of Japan and their relationships with Isahaya Bay reclamation.
- Author
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Jia, Rui, Lei, Huayang, Hino, Takenori, and Arulrajah, Arul
- Subjects
RECLAMATION of land ,ENVIRONMENTAL degradation ,TIDAL currents ,TIDAL flats - Abstract
Abstract This paper reviews the recent environmental deterioration in Ariake Sea, Japan, including an increased frequency of red tides and hypoxic waters and decreased fishery production. Analysis of the mechanisms of environmental deterioration suggests that it is possibly induced by the decrease in tidal flat area, decreases in the tide and tidal current and changes in the sediment environment. The Isahaya Bay reclamation project resulted in the loss of 1550 ha of tidal flats, and is one of the possible reasons for the decreases in the tide and tidal current. Therefore, some fishermen and researchers believe that opening the reclamation project dike's floodgates is an effective environmental restoration countermeasure for Ariake Sea. However, the central government decided not to open the floodgates at present due to strong opposition from local farmers, and some researchers believe that the influences of the Isahaya Bay reclamation project on the environmental changes outside of Isahaya Bay are minor. Several lawsuits regarding these relationships and the opening of the dike's floodgates are currently under dispute. To revive Ariake Sea as a sustainable ecosystem, other countermeasures for environmental restoration are suggested and discussed in this paper. Highlights • Ariake Sea has displayed signs of environmental deterioration in recent years. • Possible mechanism is decrease in tidal amplitude, tidal current and tidal flats. • The Isahaya Bay reclamation is one of the potential causes for environmental changes. • Dispute has arisen concerning opening the reclamation project dike's floodgates. • Countermeasures for reviving Ariake Sea as a sustainable ecosystem are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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