Introduction of Isoyake Recovery Guideline (Fisheries Agency, Japan)

Reduction of seaweed beds called 'isoyake' has become a serious problem in most of coastal prefectures in Japan. To restore seaweed beds, Fisheries Agency carried out a national project in cooperation with 16 prefectures and 19 specialists from fiscal 2004 to 2006. Isoyake Recovery Guideline was published in February 2007. Main users are fishermen who should be at the core of the restoration. Main theme is the control of intensive grazing by sea urchins and herbivorous fishes. Major topics are as follows.: (i) adaptive management to lead to successful reforestation through adaptive learning and feedback, (ii) flow chart for selecting techniques through 6 simplified categories which minimize trial and error, (iii) organized cooperation to support fishermen by volunteers, citizens, enterprises, specialists and local governments, (iv) useful viewpoints for detecting decrease of seaweeds and finding critical factors in recovering seaweed beds, (v) explanation of each technique systematized as a flow chart, (vi) promotion of effective use of herbivores to remove them from the habitat and so on.