Coastal Area 11801 Adjacent waters of Matsushima Bay

Basic Information References

Reason(s) for selection Criteria

Characteristics References

These are the waters in the vicinity of Matsushima Bay. In these waters unfolds a beautiful coastline with an environment formed by a number of small islands. Matsushima Bay is home to deep-bay eel grass, and the tidal mud flats inside the bay are rich in Japanese littleneck clam, oyster and others (Ministry of the Environment, 2001). Oyster reefs also form here. Communities of Elymus mollis and Carex kobomugi, Suaeda maritima, Carex scabrifolia, common reed, Juncaginaceae, and others form at the seashore. Pyropia tenera and others live in the Torinoumi common reed community (Ministry of the Environment, 2001). On the south side of these waters unfold the Kamou tidal mud flats, spreading from the mouth of the Nanakita River. The Kamou tidal mud flats are habitat to ragworm, Nuttallia olivacea, Helice tridens and others, and they are rich in Cerithidea rhizophorarum (northern limit), Assiminea parasitologica, and other saltwater-marsh benthic organisms (Ministry of the Environment, 2001). Brent goose also visit here.