Proceedings of international symposium on islands and oceans : January 22 & 23, 2009

Abstract

Based on its philosophy of ‘coexistence between mankind and the ocean,’ the Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF) seeks to address a broad range of ocean problems from a global and comprehensive perspective. We foster interdisciplinary cooperation and build networks among social and natural scientists, work to achieve a balance between ocean use and the need to conserve the marine environment, and carry out a variety of research on the new order taking shape on the oceans. Since 2005, one focus of OPRF’s activities has been to address the problems of the maintenance and revitalisation of Okinotorishima, the southernmost island of the Japanese archipelago, from a technical as well as a legal viewpoint. One of the lessons learned from the process is that we should not treat the issue solely as a domestic one, but invite the consideration of the Pacific Island states, Australia, New Zealand, and international society at large and carry out joint research in the search for solutions. As a result, on January 22-23, 2009, OPRF, with the cooperation of ANCORS and SOPAC, held the ‘International Symposium on Islands and Oceans’ in Tokyo, so as to share and discuss issues related to conservation, revitalisation, and management of islands and surrounding ocean areas. Eighteen experts, both national and international, from various social and natural scientific disciplines gathered and made informative presentations on their current research in order to exchange knowledge and opinions on the development of ocean governance. We are happy to have published the proceedings from the ‘International Symposium on Islands and Oceans.’ They include the collection of all the papers presented by the invited experts as well as general information on the symposium. Each paper has insightful perspectives and unique arguments and is written in a way that enables interdisciplinary discussion, which, we believe, leads to integrated and sustainable approaches for ocean governance. It is OPRF’s pleasure to announce that these proceedings will serve as the basis for our future research on islands and oceans and demonstrate the beginning of our future international collaboration.