Environmental management of the Seto Inland Sea

Abstract

The Seto Inland Sea, the largest inland sea in Japan, and its many islands, is world renowned for its unrivaled scenic beauty. Since olden times, the Seto Inland Sea has served as a transportation route, thus bringing about cultural and industrial development. However, high population density and industrial development led to an increase in waste water, causing the Seto Inland Sea environment to deteriorate to the extent that, by the 1970's, it was referred to as “the dying sea”. Alarmed by worsening environmental conditions, the governors and mayors concerned established, in 1971, the Governors' and Mayors' Conference on the Environmental Protection of the Seto Inland Sea. In 1978, This conference took a leading role in enacting the Extraordinary Law Concerning Special Measures for the Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea. At the same time, the prefectures and cities concerned jointly financed and established the Seto Inland Sea Environmental Association, to disseminate knowledge relating to environmental conservation in the Seto Inland Sea. This association has been actively involved in environmental conservation in compliance with this objective.