Coastal Area 11001 Adjacent waters of Akkeshi

Basic Information References

Reason(s) for selection Criteria

Characteristics References

These waters include Hamanaka Bay, Biwase Bay, and Akkeshi Bay in southeastern Hokkaido. The coast of the sea extending in front of Hamanaka is Zostera asiatica habitat. Biwase Bay is visited by Brent goose, and ito and others have been confirmed there as well. In the shore zones of Daikoku Island and Kojima Island in Akkeshi Bay (outer waters), the waters around Cape Aininkappu, and Cape Aikappu, 11 species of Kombu kelp grow in abundance, differing according to the environmental conditions of each location. These are excellent ecological sites. They are typical waters for viewing the diversity of cold-water kombu kelp species. This also is a unique site in that it is home to the largest simple community of Zostera asiatica in Japan. Phyllospadix iwatensis Makino, eel grass, and Zostera japonica also grow here. The vicinity of Lake Akkeshi is a Pacific herring spawning grounds, and the shallows around the rocks in Akkeshi Bay are important for their lagoons of sea moss (Mukai, 1997). This area also includes the group breeding grounds of sea birds at Daikoku Island. These important waters include the vicinity of Akkeshi Bay, where numerous spotted seals as well as common seals breeding and coming ashore can be seen, and the broad seaweed beds that continue along the coastline to just in front of the city of Kushiro are visited by numerous birds (sand martin, slaty-backed gull, Japanese cormorant, common guillemot, and others). Spectacled guillemot also can be seen here.