Environmental Economics, Culture, and Negotiation in the Coastal Sea

Abstract In fishing villages in Japan, a maritime nation, depopulation and the super aging phenomenon are proceeding rapidly, which is an unprecedentedly serious situation. To consider conservation and maintenance of coastal zones as not only an issue for fishermen, who account for 0.2% of the Japanese population, but an issue for all Japanese people, it might be effective to socially realize the concept of Satoumi, by aiming to cooperate with local residents. The Japanese term, Satoumi, refers to coastal zones that have sound bioproductivity and biodiversity through human activities, which are composed of five elements. Three factors support the conservation and revitalization of coastal zones: material circulation, ecosystems, and communication. The other two facilitate the realization of Satoumi: the field of activities and the executors of this activity.