1. RIPO For Companies & Research Institutes YNU Research Center Integrated Ocean and Coastal Management Studies

Integrated Ocean and Coastal Management Studies

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Purpose of Research

Although the ocean is attracting attention as a place to conduct new renewable energy research and undersea resource development, there are concerns over the stress on the marine environment which accompany large-scale development. On the other hand, considering the fact that the site of development is regardless of in/out of the EEZ, and that the ocean is continuous, developments that take into consideration the international trends pertaining to various legal regulations including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and environmental efforts, are indispensable. In this research, by developing the results of combined studies of liberal arts and sciences on the “sea” as cultivated by the Center for Oceanic Studies and Integrated Education, we will examine and organize research approaches from engineering, international law, international relations theory and socioeconomic aspects based on the scientific knowledge about marine environment and ecology with respect to the various challenges necessary for sustainable marine development to become possible. In addition, we will examine the challenges collectively. In the process, we will propose ways to achieve compatibility between development activities and multifaceted activities such as conservation of marine environments including coastal waters, fishery utilization, and shipping traffic.

Research content / methods

[Research content]

With respect to the issues associated with the development activities with multifaceted activities such as conservation of marine environments including coastal waters, fishery utilization and shipping traffic, and supporting sustainable marine development (marine energy development, ocean floor mineral resource development etc.), we will examine and organize the research approach from engineering, international law, international relations theory and socioeconomic aspects based on the scientific knowledge about marine environment and ecology with respect to the various challenges necessary for sustainable marine development to become possible, and we will examine the challenges collectively to propose solutions.

[Research methods]

With regards to the development of a method of global environmental impact assessment related to the development of ocean floor mineral resources, we will develop the outcome of commissioned research “Ocean Zipang Plan” in existing SIP, steadily advance our efforts toward ISO international standardization, then organize the status of the maintenance of socio-economic conditions and domestic laws of each region and trends in international law maintenance and practices (soft law) for developments to advance to Okinawa and Pacific island countries, summarizing items to be referred to when Japanese companies engage maritime matter. We will also conduct global trend surveys on safety, which is stipulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) etc., as well as various surveys and evaluations on the application of safety measures of shipping traffic to Japanese vessels.

Altogether, we will promote joint research on coastal area integrated management method.

【Features / future plans】

The fact that we are promoting the global standardization of our country’s technology, in association with the method of environmental impact assessment etc. based on combined liberal arts/sciences research on ocean floor mineral resources development of SIP conducted by the Center for Oceanic Studies and Integrated Education so far, and that we are contributing to the progress of corporate activities with public benefit, is a major feature of our activities.

Last update:2020/03/18