Coastal Area 10901 Adjacent waters of Notsuke

Basic Information References

Reason(s) for selection Criteria

Characteristics References

These waters extend to the vicinity of Notsuke Peninsula and the coast of Lake Furen. Inside Notsuke Bay, surrounded by the sandbar of the Notsuke Peninsula, broad tidal mud flats and eel grass beds have formed, inhabited by numerous benthos species such as shrimp and shellfish, fish, ragworm, and others. This is an important fishing ground inhabited by Hokkai shrimp. This abundant environment is visited by at least 20,000 migratory birds each year during the spring and fall (Japan Wildlife Research Center, 2012). At least 1% of the minimum estimated populations of the ruddy turnstone and grey-tailed tattler and at least 0.25% of that of the black-bellied plover have been recorded here (Ministry of the Environment, 2001), and for these reasons, it is a wetland listed under the Ramsar Convention. An ecosystem centered on seaweed beds also extends in the waters from the Notsuke Peninsula to Lake Furen. This area is highly important as a landing ground for flocks of migratory birds, particularly the grey-tailed tattler, whooper swan, brent goose, eurasian wigeon, greater scaup, and common goldeneye, for each of which at least 1% of the regional population is confirmed to visit here (Ministry of the Environment, 2001). On the other hand, the ecosystem of the vicinity of the Nemuro Peninsula differs in distinguishing features, as it is home to broad seaweed beds (kombu kelp forests (Sakurai, Mukai, personal communications).