Fishery resources, marine energy, and mineral and other natural resources exist in Japan's EEZ. Conservation of the EEZ and other areas, and development and use of natural resources are important for Japan's development. This article introduces the new law, enacted on May 26th, "Conservation of the Low Water Line and Improvement of Base Facilities for Promotion of the Conservation and Use of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf,  Ecommonly known as the "Low Water Level and Base Facilities Law. EIt gives an overview of the law and future measures.

From the beach use coordination initiative in the Shonai region of Yamagata prefecture, we have been able to confirm the importance of building coordinating mechanisms for comprehensive management of coastal zones. There is a need for all those involved, at the national, prefectural, town and village, and private organization levels, to feel they are principal actors in the project, and an organization dedicated to ocean issues is indispensable to facilitate the exchange and implementation of their ideas. The strengthening of such a coordinating mechanism for principal actors will contribute to comprehensive management of coastal zones.

It has been ten years since I began tracking the spawning behavior of Japanese horseshoe crabs in Haiki-seto, a channel that flows along the northern part of Ohmura Bay in Nagasaki prefecture. While I have done this from the perspective of a resident searching for horseshoe crabs in the area where he lives, rather than as a researcher, it has deepened my own views on nature. Much attention is given to the conservation of biodiversity from a scientific perspective, but I believe there is also value in contemplating such a unique creature. The Japanese horseshoe crab poses questions to us about our own society.