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Seashore Survey Survey Sequence and Effective Years (All years are fiscal years) data Result list (Japanese only except ) 5th survey 1998-2002   Report of Seashore Survey Data of Seashore Survey Code List of Seashore Survey Outline of Seashore Survey

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1. Survey Objectives

The objective is to sample shallow waters and determine their profile, investigate the usage and legal designation status of seashores and the alteration status of coastlines across the country, and survey the fauna and flora ,and their habitat at seashore area.

2. Survey Content and Methods

<Neritic region Distribution Survey>  This survey involves collecting data on the latest seabed topography, substratum and artificial structures, identifying information on depth contours up to 10m in depth, substratum and altered coastlines, and producing a neritic region distribution map, with the aim of determining the distribution status of shallow sea. <Seashore Environment Survey>  This survey involves identifying the environment of neritic region(topographic features and biota), usage and legal designation status of seashores and the alteration status of coastlines based on existing data, etc. <Seashore Organisms Survey>  A transection survey is conducted targeting organisms in supralittoral zones and intertidal zones at low spring tide using quadrates, twice a year.

3. Survey Results

<Neritic Region Distribution Survey>  The total area of tidal flats identified by the 5th survey reached 49,380.3 ha, with Ariake-kai accounting for its 40%. The result indicates that the tidal flats of 1,870 ha have disappeared since the 4th survey. In Ariake-kai, the area of desapeared tidal flats reached 322.3 ha, which was the largest loss per wetland. "Moba" (algal beds and seagrass beds) within 10 m in depth were identified in the area of 142,459 ha. Coral reefs were also found to be widely distributed to the south of Tokara archipelago. In addition, Japan's largest coral reef topography in Yaeyama archipelago is world renowned for its hermatypic coral diversity. <Seashore Environment Survey>  The result of the 5th survey shows that the total length of coastlines has increased by 800 km since the 4th survey.  In view of their categories, natural coasts have decreased by 700 km, while artificial coasts have increased by 880 km since the 4th survey. <Seashore Organisms Survey>  An inventory of fauna recorded in supralittoral and intertidal zones was developed.

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