Ocean Policy, Maritime Traffic and Security Studies

Proposal for a 21st Century Ocean Policy

While many countries around the world are steadily moving forward with a comprehensive ocean policy for ocean governance and sustainable development, under the new regime created by UNCLOS, the Japanese government has yet to show much initiative in this regard. In order for Japan to realize its role as an ocean state, it must urgently seek ways to establish and implement an ocean policy and further its collaboration with the international community.
In pursuit of this aim, in November 2005 OPRF compiled the "Proposal for a 21st Century Ocean Policy," which focuses on the establishment of necessary administrative bodies to enact a basic ocean law, the management of the nation's expanded ocean areas and international harmonization. We have since been active in promoting the proposal to government policy makers, leading academic and industry representatives, and other relevant bodies.
One outcome of this was the "Basic Ocean Law Forum," established in April 2006 on the initiative of members of the Diet. The forum was established to discuss the formation of an appropriate system for properly handling all ocean policies. OPRF served as secretariat of the forum. The Ocean Policy Outline and the Outline of the Basic Ocean Law were adopted by the Forum in December 2006 and concerned members of the Japanese Diet promoted these in their activities to formulate the Basic Act on Ocean Policy, which was passed in April 2007. The Basic Plan on Ocean Policy was subsequently adopted in March 2008. OPRF has continued its work to promote Japan as a new maritime state by serving as the secretariat for the "Basic Act on Ocean Policy Follow-up Study Group," composed of legislators and experts involved in promoting passage of the bill.

Comprehensive Research and Study on Ocean Policy

China's Pinghu Oil Field Development (Photo: The Chunichi Shimbun)

Comprehensive management of the ocean and specific action programs to be taken by each country have been principal agenda items since the enactment of UNCLOS took place in 1994. For this reason, OPRF has carried out research and analysis on the ocean policies of various countries, such as the United States, Australia, Britain and China, and integrated those results. It hopes to use the results of this comparative research to promote comprehensive ocean management in Japan and international cooperation.
OPRF also actively participates in the activities of international groups of maritime stakeholders such as UNICPO (United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea), PEMSEA (Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia), and various global forums, thereby grappling with the management of the seas and coastal zones in the Asian region. In 2008, OPRF's activities in this field were recognized by ECOSOC in its granting of Special Consultative Status to the United Nations.

Conservation and Research Surveys on Islands and their Surrounding Ocean Areas

Photo: Kyodo News

Although many islands play an important role in the management of surrounding ocean areas, due to global climate change islands face serious threats of saline damage to crops, extreme weather conditions, flood and inundation, as well as damage to their coral reefs, the foundation of island life. There is even the fear that islands themselves might disappear under the waves due to sea level rise. As these problems are too big to be addressed by those countries with islands alone, international cooperation is called for.
Japan itself has approximately 7,000 islands, and thus faces the same problems, as can be seen in the case of Okinotorishima and Minami Torishima. In seeking a solution, therefore, we believe initiatives based on cooperation with other countries that share the same sense of urgency is the most effective way forward.
We at OPRF therefore, building on our research on Okinotorishima, and in cooperation with other Pacific island states, will make proposals, from both natural and social science perspectives, to address the various problems facing islands and their surrounding ocean areas, including issues of island conservation and revival, and sea level rise due to climate change. We also hope to carry out research surveys on management of surrounding ocean areas.

Support for Extending the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf

In accordance with UNCLOS provisions, a coastal state may extend the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines. It is required for a coastal state to submit relevant scientific data and information to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
Japan was the 13th country to submit such data and information to the Commission in November 2008. The Commission began its examination at the meeting in August 2009.
In looking at the Commission's examinations of other coastal states' submissions however, it appears that the principles for the examinations are less than clear and that varying examinations are made on a case-by-case basis. The gathering and analysis of various matters related to the extension of the continental shelf are therefore important, including analysis of the recommendation made by the Commission, information on any exchanges between the Commission and delegations of coastal states on their submissions, and analysis of general ideas in the examination by the Commission on relevant issues.
OPRF is supporting Japan's submission by conducting research on progress in examinations of submissions made by other coastal states, and recommendations adopted by the Commission, as well as posting information it has obtained about the continental shelf on our website. Click here for more information (in Japanese).

Dialogues on Ocean Security

A Marine Drill toward Anti-piracy and Anti-terrorism Measures

A Proposal Based on the Results of the U.S.-Japan Seapower Dialogue

The sea-lanes from the Middle East to Japan are its 'energy road' and thus a matter of life and death for Japan. However, these ocean areas are extremely vulnerable from a security standpoint, as, in addition to the problems concerning territorial rights of certain islands in the South and East China Seas and the long-standing regional conflicts between India and Pakistan and in the Middle East, there are the new threats of piracy and terror at sea, and the emergence of disputes between states over fishing and seabed resources. In order to secure safety of navigation in these waters, dialogue with coastal states on maritime security is thus important.
As OPRF believes that dialogues carried out in a flexible manner on a Track 2 basis might play a large role in promoting maritime security, to date we have carried out maritime security dialogues with India, Indonesia, China, and Turkey, issuing and widely disseminating joint statements based on our discussions.
As for Japan-U.S. relations, we invited experts from both countries to discuss the meaning of their seapower alliance, resulting in the "Proposal Based on the Results of the U.S.-Japan Seapower Dialogue: United States- Japan Alliance for Stability and Prosperity on the Oceans," which we released in April 2009.
We plan to continue these Track 2 dialogues in the hope that they might lead to full intergovernmental talks on maritime security in the future.

• "Indo-Japan Dialogue on Ocean Security"
  -Joint Statement on Ocean Security Cooperation-(October 13, 2006) 
• Joint Declaration on Maritime Security Cooperation (October 9, 2008)
  —OPRF and IMS of Indonesia 

Anti-piracy Initiatives for the Seas off Somalia

"Policy Proposal Regarding Japan's Response to Emerging Piracy off the Coast of Somalia," Presented to Prime Minister Taro Aso

OPRF has heretofore devoted much effort to maritime security studies, including surveys on piracy. In 2008, for example, with the sudden rise in piracy off the Somalia coast, we made a policy proposal to the Japanese government and strengthened our public awareness activities.
On November 14, 2008 we held the "Emergency Conference on Measures to Thwart Somali Offshore Pirates." We then summarized these discussions in our "Policy Proposal Regarding Japan's Response to Emerging Piracy off the Coast of Somalia," which we presented to Prime Minister Taro Aso, who was concurrently serving as Director-General of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy, on November 18. Furthermore, on March 24, 2009, we held the "Emergency Conference on Somali Offshore Piracy" to increase a shared awareness of the current situation and discuss possible solutions. Reflecting the rapidly developing consensus for an anti-piracy policy, the Law on Punishment of and Measures against Acts of Piracy was submitted to the Diet in March of the same year, adopted in June, and took effect from the following month.
OPRF is continuing its research in these areas, in the hopes of promoting further gains in maritime security, including safety of navigation.