Coastal Area 13405 Osaka Bay

Basic Information References

Reason(s) for selection Criteria

Characteristics References

These waters in Osaka Bay are 10-30 m in depth. In these waters the spawning grounds of multiple species overlap. The spawning grounds of Kareius bicoloratus are found in coastal zones up to 30 m deep in the southern and northwestern parts of the bay, those of marbled sole in the shallow waters at least 10 m deep and shore-zone seaweed beds of the northwestern part of the bay, the southeast to southern parts of the bay, and the southeast coast of Awaji Island, those of bastard halibut in the shallow waters 20-50 m deep and seaweed beds of the northwestern part of the bay, the southeast to southern parts of the bay, and the southeast coast of Awaji Island, and those of Japanese blue crab in the tidal mud flats and river mouth areas of the southeast to southern parts of the bay. Main spawning grounds of Japanese tiger prawn are in the offshore zone up to 10 m deep, those of Repomucenus richardsonii in the waters around 10 m deep, Japanese sea bass up to 30 m in depth, dotted gizzard shad in the northern area (Fisheries Agency, 1999; Osaka Prefecture, Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries).