Seto Inland sea Declaration
Meeting in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, on theeastern coast of the Seto Inland Sea, we , theparticipants of the International Conference onthe Environmental management of Enclosed
Coastal Seas '90(EMECS '90), discussed theurgent need for the environmental protection andappropriate use of enclosed coastal seas the world
over.
Enclosedcoastal

seas,

which

arelargely

surrounded by land and endowed with a naturalenvironment, 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 coastand, at the same time, fostering a wide variety of cultures.
However, when people become overconfident with the blessings of such seas in pursuing theiractivities, 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 arematters of urgent global concern, and given that the rich environment of enclosed coastal seas is inserious jeopardy in many parts of the world, we wish to emphasize the importance of the following
points:1. 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 andinformation 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 publicshould be strongly encouraged through the extensive development of environmental
education and the further enhancement of public awareness.
2. Due to the poor exchange of water, tremendous efforts are required to restore theenvironmental 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 theproperties of the environment of enclosed coastal seas, the effects of contamination onecosystems, the mechanisms of the outbreaks of algal blooms and the causes of anoxia as wellas methods and techniques for their prevention.
Further studies should be conducted on the protection of marine resources and habitats aswell as the potential effect of changes in the global climate;
3. 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 beachieved only through close co-operation between national, regional and local levels of thegovernments concerned. Such co-operation requires strong political commitment andconsensus 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, organicand other pollutants from the catchment basin and other areas. In addition, conservation andpreservation measures are needed to maintain the natural character of coastal areas.
In implementing policies effectively, appropriate combinations of regulatory measures andeconomic instruments would be needed. The implementation and performance of relevant
policies should be constantly reviewed.
4. 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 toadvance the use of enclosed coastal seas in a sustainable manner, while conserving theirenvironments.
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.
5. The utilization of enclosed coastal seas in a sustainable manner in industrialized anddeveloping countries is a particularly important task for the entire world. To avoid therecurrence of the environmental pollution and deterioration experienced by industrializedcountries, the transfer of appropriate knowledge and experience from developed countries todeveloping 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 haveexplored ways and means of using these seas in a sustainable manner, while conserving theirenvironment, based on the recognition that the sea, which links all nations, is the origin oflife.
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 thatin light of the extent and importance of such problems, another such gathering will take placein the near future.
Kobe, August 6, 1990
International Conference on the Environmental
Management of the Enclosed Coastal Seas '90