In April 2001, a new "Basic Environment Law" was established in Japan with a view towards the recycling, reuse, and reduction of waste materials. The philosophy of the law is to target the disposal of all industrial products, and ships and international merchandise are of no exception. Shipbreaking is the last stage in the life cycle of ships, but its implications are posing many serious international problems from the perspective of the environmental preservation of our planet.

Biodiversity is the key to the health of the ocean. Finally, we on earth have started to realize this important fact. In order to protect the ecosystems of the ocean, we need to build an integrated framework that transects all relevant organizations and implement a "precautionary principle" approach to policy decision-making.
Selected Papers No.2(p.20)

Amongst the increasing amount of recreational users of jet-skis, who are encouraged by the simplicity of obtaining licenses to ride them, there are small mindless portion of users who insist on the reckless use of their machines to the demise of others. The establishment of regulations to curb this reckless behavior and the revision of laws to enforce controls on activities that seriously influence the fishing environment in Japan have fallen far behind the times.