Coastal Area 17401 Shakotan Peninsula

Basic Information References

Reason(s) for selection Criteria

Characteristics References

These waters include the entire Shakotan Peninsula (from the vicinity of the mouth of the Chatsu River to Yoichi Bay, Shioya Bay, and the vicinity of Cape Takashima on the northern Shakotan Peninsula). The communities of Laminaria religiosa in the southwestern Sea of Japan in Hokkaido are home to greater diversity of creatures than the sea floors dominated by non-geniculate coralline beds. In recent years, the distributed area of kombu kelp beds has been in a decreasing trend due to rocky-shore denudation, and the extent of these beds is limited to the water's edge, so that they are becoming increasingly rare. In these waters the sea extending in front of the Sakazuki district in the village of Tomari is home to large-scale kombu kelp beds. While generally Laminaria religiosa is an annual, in some spots in this area biennial kombu kelp appears in some years, as a special environment appears to be maintained amid the rocky-shore denudation zone (Ministry of the Environment, 2001). Overall the Shakotan Peninsula retains its natural state to a high degree, and it is a spawning grounds for fish as well. It is abundant in seaweed and serves as a fishing grounds for Okhotsk atka mackerel and others (Zengyoren engan gyojyou kaihatu taisaku-shitu, 1977). Steller sea lion is often confirmed in the vicinity of Cape Kamui, and spotted seals are seen frequently in the vicinity of Cape Kamui and the vicinity of Yoichi Bay (Kitano Umino Doubutu Center, 2004; Sakurai, personal communication).