Bridging Major Environmental Marine Issues in Japan: Societal Perceptions Necessitating A Global Approach

This paper describes current environmental marine issues in Japan that may have an impact on human health. In addition, it addresses possible solutions to solving Japan’s environmental problems. Fourteen marine researchers and/or educators were interviewed and surveyed on global marine issues. Respondents ranked their responses and findings indicated that although a consensus was reached, some marine issues were directly related and not mutually exclusive. Sewage pollution, oil pollution, non biodegradable pollution, and habitat destruction were listed as the major threats to the well being of Japan.

Although Japan’s response to environmental degradation in the past was crisis orientated, Japan has acknowledged a global approach to solving and preventing marine environmental problems. Environmental problems are not only scientific but include a human component. Education and public health have become major parameters to solving environmental problems. In the future, Japan hopes to treat their environmental problems not only in a local context but in a global context as well.