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Quantitative mapping of kelp forests (Laminaria spp.) before and after harvest in coastal waters of the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan

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Abstract

In the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage site, the sustainable management of kelp forests has drawn public attention because of the economic and ecological importance of kelp. We spatially estimated the distributions of kelp forests in the Shiretoko Peninsula before and after harvest. Field surveys were conducted in coastal waters (23.74 km2) at the ends of July and August 2008, immediately before and after harvest. Data on the presence or absence and thickness of the kelp forests were collected via acoustic observation. The data were interpolated using geostatistical methods. Before harvest, the kelp forests were continuously distributed over 5.64 km2 (thickness 33–132 cm), especially near the north part of the study area. After harvest, they were sparsely distributed over 2.73 km2 (thickness 35–105 cm). In the southern part of the study area, the influence of harvests was observed as declines in forest area. In addition, relatively thickly forested areas formed the majority of the part most likely to be harvested. Selective harvesting for area and size was confirmed though quantitative mapping of kelp forests. The quantitative mapping of both the distribution and harvest of kelp forests was successful.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. M. Nakaoka of the Hokkaido University and Dr. T. Komatsu of the University of Tokyo for their useful comments and suggestions in this study. We are grateful to researcher Y. Fukuda and boatman K. Sudou for their kind advice and assistance. We also thank the Fisheries Cooperation Association of Rausu and the Sonic Corporation for their support in conducting this study. This study was supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Fisheries Science, Hokkaido University, Minato-cho 3-1-1, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-8611, Japan

    Kenji Minami

  2. Marino-Forum 21, Taito 4-8-7, Taito, Tokyo, 110-0016, Japan

    Naoki Tojo

  3. Graduate School of Fisheries Science, Hokkaido University, Minato-cho 3-1-1, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-8611, Japan

    Hiroki Yasuma

  4. Forestry and Fisheries Dependence, Hiroshima Agriculture, Motomachi 10-52, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 730-8511, Japan

    Yusuke Ito

  5. Shiretoko Nature Foundation, Shiretoko National Park Nature Center, Iwaobetsu 531, Shari-cho, Hokkaido, 099-4356, Japan

    Takahiro Nobetsu

  6. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Minato-cho 3-1-1, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-8611, Japan

    Shin-ichi Fukui & Kazushi Miyashita

Authors
  1. Kenji Minami
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  2. Naoki Tojo
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  3. Hiroki Yasuma
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  4. Yusuke Ito
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  5. Takahiro Nobetsu
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  6. Shin-ichi Fukui
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  7. Kazushi Miyashita
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Correspondence to Kenji Minami.

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Minami, K., Tojo, N., Yasuma, H. et al. Quantitative mapping of kelp forests (Laminaria spp.) before and after harvest in coastal waters of the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. Fish Sci 80, 405–413 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-014-0731-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-014-0731-0

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