13. Shiretoko (Japan) (N 1193)
Year of inscription on the World Heritage List 2005
Criteria (ix)(x)Year(s) of inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger N/APrevious Committee Decisions see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1193/documents/
International Assistance
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved: USD 0
For details, see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1193/assistance/
UNESCO Extra-budgetary Funds
N/APrevious monitoring missions
February 2008: joint World Heritage Centre/ IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission
Factors affecting the property identified in previous reports
Impact of river constructions including check dams and erosion control dams on salmon migration
for spawning
Other factors indicated in the 2008 Reactive Monitoring mission
Illustrative material see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1193/
Current conservation issues
On 21 January 2015, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property,
which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1193/documents. The report provides the following
information in relation to issues previously noted by the Committee:
Population recovery of the migrating group of Steller’s Sea Lion in the Sea of Japan has led to thespecies being upgraded from Vulnerable to Near Threatened. However, the increased population
size is also reported to be causing increased damage to fisheries. Culling of sea lions therefore
continues based on a precautionary and adaptive approach, in order to avoid extinction risk to thespecies. The maximum allowable catch size has been increased from 257 in 2013/2014 to 516 in
2014/2015 for all of Hokkaido. However, the maximum allowable catch size for the Nemuro
migrating group, which includes the property but is not limited to it, remains at 15;
Monitoring of the status of salmonid migration and spawning, following modifications to 13 river
structures built on five rivers in the property, was mostly completed by 2013 and the results arepresented in Appendix 2 of the report. Further monitoring will take place for the periods 2013-2014
and 2019-2020;
Despite indications of some positive impacts from modifications to the three check dams on theRusha river, there are concerns that the recent degradation of the river bed downstream of thesedams may have an adverse effect on upstream salmon runs, and that the fixation of water courses
and the blockage of hyporheic flows caused by the dams reduces the number of spawning beds
between them;No further modifications of dams on the Rusha river have taken place after the modifications of two
upstream dams in 2006, but discussions are on-going on the possibility of further modifications, on
the condition that a balance can be struck between improving salmon spawning and maintaining
these dams’ role in preventing damage from disasters to fixed net fishing grounds;
The salmon and trout hatchery at the mouth of the Rusha river was removed in 2012.
Analysis and Conclusions of the World Heritage Centre and IUCNThe State Party’s efforts to maintain a healthy population of Steller’s Sea Lion are noted. Surveys of thewintering population of Steller’s Sea Lion on the east coast of Shiretoko Peninsula from 2006 to 2014,as provided in the State Party report, indicate an overall population growth. However, the level offluctuation is such that it is difficult to conclude whether or not a positive trend is currently being
maintained, and a declining trend since the 2010/2011 season appears plausible. It is therefore
recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to ensure that catch quotas are regularly
reviewed and adjusted to maintain a stable to growing population of sea lions in the property, and in thewider seascape.
Noting that some positive impacts from the modifications of river structures are reported andconsultation with local authority and communities are ongoing, there remains concern that thepresence of check dams on the Rusha river, which is the most important salmon river system in theproperty, is having a negative impact on salmonid migration and spawning. These concerns areconfirmed by the State Party in its report.
It is noted that the salmon and trout hatchery at the mouth of the Rusha river was completely removed
in 2012, and that the road and bridge leading to the hatchery are not used by the public. Consequently,
the role of the three check dams in disaster risk reduction is limited to the protection of a source of
livelihood rather than human life. The benefits thus provided by these dams are outweighed by theimpacts they are having on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property.
The interaction between marine and terrestrial ecosystems is an integral part of the OUV of theproperty, and a natural migratory and spawning behavior of salmonids is considered a vital part of thatinteraction. Therefore, it is recommended that the Committee raise concern about the lack of progressin the implementation of further modifications to the three dams on the Rusha river, and request theState Party to continue further modifications to these dams, including consideration of :the option of fully removing them, including the concrete below surface level, andfully decommission the road and bridge leading to the former hatchery, in order to restore normalhyporheic flow and to promote river braiding and meandering to improve salmonid spawning
habitat.
Given the need for detailed technical discussion, it is recommended that the Committee urge theState Party and the IUCN SSC Salmonid Specialist Group to seek a consensus based on best
available science regarding the most appropriate and practicable solution. The State Party may
wish to consider inviting an IUCN Advisory mission to that end.

13. Shiretoko (Japan) (N 1193)
Decision: 39 COM 7B.13
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.12, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Notes the State Party’s efforts to maintain a healthy population of Steller’s Sea Lion in theSea of Japan and in the property, and urges the State Party to ensure that catch quotas
are regularly reviewed and adjusted to maintain a stable to growing population of sea
lions in the property, and in the wider seascape;4. Notes with appreciation the reported positive impacts from the modification of riverstructures, however, notes with concern that no further modifications to the dams on theRusha river have taken place as requested by the Committee at its 36th session in 2012
(Decision 36 COM 7B.12), in particular in light of the State Party’s noted concerns about
negative impacts from these dams on the downstream river bed and the availability ofsalmonid spawning habitat;
5. Considers that a natural salmonid migration and spawning behaviour are vital for theproperty to serve as an “outstanding example of the interaction of marine and terrestrial
ecosystems”, and also considers that, with the removal of the salmon and trout hatcheryat the mouth of the Rusha river in 2012, the benefits of the three check dams fordisaster risk reduction are outweighed by their impacts on the Outstanding Universal
Value (OUV) of the property;
6. Also urges the State Party to continue further modifications of these dams, including
consideration of the option to fully remove them, in close consultation with the local
authority and communities, in order to fully mitigate the impacts of the three dams on
the Rusha river, to also consider the option of removing the concrete below surface
level, and to fully decommission the road and bridge that lead to the former hatchery, inorder to restore normal flow of surface and ground water, and to promote river braiding
and meandering to improve salmonid spawning habitat;
7. Recommends the State Party and the IUCN SSC Salmonid Specialist Group to seek aconsensus based on best available science regarding the most appropriate andpracticable solution and to consider the possibility of inviting an IUCN Advisory Mission
to the property to provide advice on these matters;

8. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016,an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservationof the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World
Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.