New approach for the integrated aquaculture management from the view point of multi-functional role of fisheries and aquacultures

Supply of food, in particular of protein has long been widely accepted as major role of fisheries and aquaculture for human society. However, recent growing concern on the global environmental issue and sustainable development is now making clear that fisheries and aquaculture also play important roles on material cycling between land and sea, monitoring of fishing environment and living resources, purification of pollutant through biological activities and food chain, environmental watching by fisherman, environmental education, eco-tourism etc. In this context, Science Council of Japan submitted a special report to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries recently (Aug. 2004) on multiple roles and functions of fisheries and fishing communities, in which role on environmental conservation, role on formation of regional community, role on maintaining personal security, role on providing fields of education and many kinds of amenity were highlighted as well as the role of food supply. Responsible and sustainable aquaculture also can play important functional roles. As an example of possible new approach for the integrated aquaculture management from the view point of multi-functional role of aquaculture, present status and possible future direction of large scale oyster culture in Hiroshima Bay, Japan are discussed. For the future direction, integrated oyster culture management responsible for regional economy and community are proposed with particular reference to safe and clean oyster meat supply, benthic living resource enhancement by raft oyster culture system, recovery of discharged N and P from land, environmental and red tide monitoring system, many varieties of recreation, seascape, eco-tourism and environmental education for especially younger generation. This proposed management should be involved in the more holistic environmental and ecosystem management by wide variety of stakeholders as a part of integrated coastal management of Hiroshima Bay including land use management of Ohta River watershed which has strong influence on the biological productivity and diversity of Hiroshima Bay.