 Meeting
in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, on the eastern coast of
the Seto Inland Sea, we , the participants of the
International Conference on the Environmental management
of Enclosed Coastal Seas '90(EMECS '90), discussed the
urgent need for the environmental protection and
appropriate use of enclosed coastal seas the world over.
Enclosed coastal seas, which are largely surrounded by
land and endowed with a natural environment, have long
been used for fishery and other human activities as well
as for waterborne traffic and for recreation, thereby
supporting the flourishing life of people living along
their coast and, at the same time, fostering a wide
variety of cultures.
However, when people become overconfident with the
blessings of such seas in pursuing their activities,
detrimental changes to the environment of enclosed
coastal seas may eventually deprive people of the
benefits they now enjoy.
Recognizing that the environmental protection and the
appropriate use of enclosed coastal seas are matters of
urgent global concern, and given that the rich
environment of enclosed coastal seas is in serious
jeopardy in many parts of the world, we wish to emphasize
the importance of the following points:
- The rich environment and great benefits of
enclosed coastal seas must be passed on to future
generations.
To this end, all those concerned should seek to
advance the use of such seas in a sustainable
manner, while conserving their environment.
International and regional co-operation in
coastal zones, including technology transfer and
information exchange, should be further enhanced.
As these seas have long been closely related to
human life, and in order to carry out appropriate
environmental conservation and protection, the
active participation of the public should be
strongly encouraged through the extensive
development of environmental education and the
further enhancement of public awareness.
- Due to the poor exchange of water, tremendous
efforts are required to restore the environmental
quality of enclosed coastal seas once they become
polluted. Furthermore, algal blooms and anoxia
have had adverse effects on fishery and
recreation in many enclosed coastal seas.
In order to effectively prevent the pollution of
both the water and the sea bed of these seas,
research, monitoring and exchange of information
should be further promoted on the properties of
the environment of enclosed coastal seas, the
effects of contamination on ecosystems, the
mechanisms of the outbreaks of algal blooms and
the causes of anoxia as well as methods and
techniques for their prevention.
Further studies should be conducted on the
protection of marine resources and habitats as
well as the potential effect of changes in the
global climate;
- Land and sea resources and the environment are
closely interrelated and land use, industrial
activity, coastal reclamation and other
activities affect the quality and availability of
coastal land, coastal waters, their ecosystems,
the natural landscape and the marine environment.
Thus a comprehensive, integrated approach to
coastal zone management is needed to ensure
economic development as well as environmental
protection of these areas. This can be achieved
only through close co-operation between national,
regional and local levels of the governments
concerned. Such co-operation requires strong
political commitment and consensus at all levels.
A comprehensive approach would involve planning
at regional and local levels, preventive policies
and appropriate control of the inflow of heavy
metals, hazardous chemicals, organic and other
pollutants from the catchment basin and other
areas. In addition, conservation and preservation
measures are needed to maintain the natural
character of coastal areas.
In implementing policies effectively, appropriate
combinations of regulatory measures and economic
instruments would be needed. The implementation
and performance of relevant policies should be
constantly reviewed.
- As can be seen from the above, a comprehensive
contribution from all fields of research,
including the ecological, social, economic and
cultural sciences are needed, in order to advance
the use of enclosed coastal seas in a sustainable
manner, while conserving their environments.
Accordingly, we eagerly hope for continued
opportunities to promote comprehensive
interdisciplinary research and the international
exchange of opinions and Information.
We note with satisfaction that a body of
researchers on the Seto Inland Sea is being
organized for the furtherance of studies on its
environmental conservation and appropriate use.
- The utilization of enclosed coastal seas in a
sustainable manner in industrialized and
developing countries is a particularly important
task for the entire world. To avoid the
recurrence of the environmental pollution and
deterioration experienced by industrialized
countries, the transfer of appropriate knowledge
and experience from developed countries to
developing countries should be further promoted.
We welcome the initiative of the Japanese
government in implementing a training program,
beginning in 1990, to transfer technology for the
environmental management of enclosed coastal seas
to developing countries.
We highly appreciate the fact that those experts
from a variety of nations and regions concerned
with the problems of enclosed coastal seas, have
met together at EMECS '90. Through the exchange
of information and experience on their respective
seas, we have explored ways and means of using
these seas in a sustainable manner, while
conserving their environment, based on the
recognition that the sea, which links all
nations, is the origin of life.
In full confidence that EMECS '90 has greatly
contributed to the solution of problems
concerning enclosed coastal seas, matters which
are of global concern, we earnestly hope that in
light of the extent and importance of such
problems, another such gathering will take place
in the near future.
Kobe, August 6, 1990
International Conference on the Environmental
Management of the Enclosed Coastal Seas '90
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