Coastal Area 11502 Mutsu Bay coast

Basic Information References

Reason(s) for selection Criteria

Characteristics References

These are the coastal waters of Mutsu Bay (including Noheji Bay and eastern Aomori Bay). The coast of Mutsu Bay, which consists of enclosed waters, is dominated by sandy beaches (sand and mud), with highly diverse and highly productive communities of benthic organisms. Off the east shore of Aomori Bay grow eel grass, Zostera japonica, Zostera caulescens, and Zostera caespitosa, and growth of Zostera caespitosa continues from Aomori Bay to Noheji Bay as well. Southern Mutsu Bay is important as the isolated northern limit of Halophila ovalis (Kirihara et al., 2005). In addition, in Aomori Bay the Harabetsu Coast, Ominato Bay, and the Kominato Asadokoro Coast are visited by whooper swan, Brent goose, and other migratory birds. In addition, Japanese scallops, bloody clam(Anadara broughtonii), and others are abundant here (Ministry of the Environment, 2001).