Ocean Newsletter
No.501 June 20, 2021
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The New Deep Sea Drilling Project and Its Contributions towards Addressing Climate Change Issues
MASUDA Harue
Professor, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City UniversityThe International Ocean Discovery Program, which has a history of over 20 years, will enter a new phase in 2023. Deep-sea cores preserve records of various phenomena that have occurred in Earth and the oceans. Analyzing sediment cores allow detailed reconstructions of climate change history. I would here like to introduce “The 2050 Science Framework”, which presents goals for the new Deep Sea Drilling Project, focusing on its contributions towards climate change issues. -
The Ocean and Phosphorus Depletion Issues
SUZUMURA Masahiro
Chief Senior Researcher, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyPhosphorus causes eutrophication in coastal waters, making it a substance that leads to water pollution. On the other hand, it is also an important nutrient which facilitates photosynthesis and results in rich marine resources and biodiversity. This article examines the current situation of how the depletion of the element phosphorus is now becoming a serious problem for the oceans and humans, affecting marine ecosystems, sustainability of industrial technologies, and even mankind’s survival. -
Multinational Cooperation and Challenges in Finding Solutions to Illegal Fishing Activities
FUJII Iwao
Researcher, Ocean Policy Research Institute, The Sasakawa Peace FoundationRegional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) play an important role in resolving the problem of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The efforts of RFMOs are varied, including monitoring fishing vessels through the use of vessel monitoring systems (VMS), but many, many challenges still exist. Further strengthening of the relationships between RFMO member countries and between other affected countries is important for reaching a solution to IUU fishing.