
Three major challenges to face in Osaka Bay
◇ Restoration of natural environmentsAs a consequence of the rapid economic growth experienced in Japan following the late 1950s, intensive land reclamation was done along the coast of Osaka Bay to change seaside areas into industrial zones and harbor districts. This caused a large-scale elimination of beautiful sand beaches and nutritious intertidal flats in the bay, resulting in very few remaining natural habitats compared to Tokyo Bay and Ise Bay. In addition, most of the coastal areas were transformed into vertical walls, which sometimes leads to a deteriorated environment for marine organisms.
◇ Huge hollows in the seabed
There are many huge hollow areas caused by dredging operations in Osaka Bay, especially along the coast of Senshu. The total volume of the dredged seabed areas reaches 3.2 × 107m3, nearly 27 times the volume of Tokyo dome. Hypoxic and stagnating seawater in the hollows produces poisonous hydrogen sulfide, killing many kinds of marine organisms in and near the hollows. The issue of the large hollow areas in the Osaka Bay seabed should be solved as quickly as possible, but restoration of the hollow is belabored by the tremendous volumes involved.
◇ Lopsided distribution of nutrients
The natural current flow was constricted by land reclamation in the inner areas of Osaka Bay, where abundant nutrient-rich fresh water flows through the Yodo and Yamato rivers. This has led to a sharp increase of nutrient concentration of seawaters in the inner area, while in the central and southern areas of the bay, concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus declined to an almost oligotrophic level. The imbalanced distribution of nutrients between the inner and southern areas of the bay is severe. Since most of the marine plants and animals require a moderate nutrient level, resolving the maldistribution of nutrients should be addressed as quickly as possible.
Role and image of outcome
The participation of many different organizations is needed to solve the issues of the coastal environment, and to promote restoration projects. CIFER Osaka Bay believes that constructing a framework is crucial to achieve the cooperation and collaboration of diverse organizations, where each enterprise, administrative agency, institute and citizens can show merit through the process of research, verification tests and practical use.Expanding four major subjects
CIFER core sets four major subjects and is expanding the following projects to solve the coastal environmental issues of Osaka Bay.Subject1 : Osaka Bay Environment Restoration Project
Subject2 : Environmental Project using Marine Aquaculture and Biotechnology
Subject3 : Project for Fostering International Environmental Experts
Subject4 : Action for Enlightenment and Publicity
Activity of each working group
WG1. Environmental restoration of the port
【Sakai second district,Sakai-Semboku port(Kitahakuchi)】
WG2. Surveys on the positive effect and environmental impact
of dredged soil with converter slag
【Sakai second district,Sakai-Semboku port(Kitahakuchi)】
WG3. Water purification field experiments
【Sakai second district,Sakai-Semboku port(Kitahakuchi)】
WG4/WG6. Activation of unused seawater areas
【Kishiwada lumber port/Hannan sixth district】
WG5. Examination of downsized eco-friendly vertical walls,
“Eco-Blocks” and their multiple uses
【Sakai second district,Sakai-Semboku port(Kitahakuchi)】
WG7. Field experiments to develop organism-friendly vertical walls
【Osaka Bay Regional Offshore Environmental Improvement Center, Izumiotsu】
WG8. Cultivation of bivalves
【Hannan sixth district】
WG9.Measures to utilize and apply by-products generated
from construction activities
【Osaka Bay】
Joined events with citizens
We are tackling the fosterage of environmental-protection experts through events aiming to know and enjoy the coastal zone.A. Adopt seaside program
【Sakai second district,Sakai-Semboku port(Kitahakuchi)】
B. Osaka Bay miniature beach construction,
and marine life observation on tidal flats
【Fuke fishing port and Takashinohama】
C. Learning program on the nutrient flow cycle between land and sea
【Osaka Bay Regional Offshore Environmental Improvement Center,Amagasaki】
Hideki Ueshima(guest professor, Hiroshima Institute of Technology)
Director:
Susumu Yamochi(professor emeritus, Osaka City University)
Director:
Koji Otsuka(professor, Osaka Prefectural University)
Director:
Takaaki Shigematsu(professor, Osaka City University)
Director:
Takashi Yokoyama
(Advisor of Environmental Preservation and Restoration of Seaside Areas, Sakai City)
Director:
Noboru Naito
(Advisor of Kansai Environmental Management and Technology Center)
Inspector:
Hiroyuki Okuda(regional officer of Resona Bank, Ltd.)
CIFER CORE
Annual membership feeFull member (vote participating):200,000 yen
Associate member (non-participating) : 50,000 yen
Advantages of membership
◇ Full member
(1) Right to submit project proposals
(2) Participation in the work group
◇ Associate member
(1) Participation in the work group as an observer
◇ In common
(1) Mail news from CIFER core
(2) Participation in seminars or symposiums hosted by CIFER core without entry
fees
(3) Introduction of the members at the homepage of CIFER core
(4) Companionship and exchange of information between members,and participation
in cooperative research
Full member【a total of 32 companies】
GEOSTR Corporation, NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION,
Kobe Steel,Ltd., KANSO Co., LTD., NIKKEN SEKKEI CIVIL ENGINEERING LTD,
OSAKA BENTONITE, CTI Engineering Co., Ltd., ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ANDTECHNOLOGY CENTER, HANNAN WAREHOUSE CORPORATION,
SAN OH CO.,LTD.,OSAKA GAS CO.,LTD, Osaka Urban Development and
Improvement Center, Yokogawa Sumikin Bridge Corp., IDEA Consultants, Inc.,
Kyowa Concrete Industry Co.,Ltd, YANO CONSTRUCTION Co., Ltd
REMATEC R&D Corporation, Ecoplex Co., TAIHEIYO CEMENT CORPORATION,
The New Japan Engineering Consultants, Inc., DAIKO INDUSTRIAL Co.,Ltd,
Linx Co.,Ltd., DAIYO CONSTRUCTION, Japan Ocean Resources Development and
Engineering Co., Ltd, SEKISUI AQUA SYSTEMS CO.,LTD, MIZUKEN Co., Ltd.
Yamazaki gravel Inc., The Kanden L&A Company,Limited, TOA CORPORATION,
TOYO CONSTRUCTION CO.,LTD., PENTA-OCEAN CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.,
WAKACHIKU CONSTRUCTION CO.,LTD.
Associate member 【a total of 35 companies】
SHUSEI, Co.,Ltd., Shikibo Ltd, SAKAISEMBOKU WHARF Co.,Ltd,
Osaka Tug Business Cooperative, SHIMANO INC., Beacon Co.,
Hanshin Expressway R&D Company Limited, HAZAMA ANDO CORPORATION,
Wanken Co., B-CRAFT SAKAI Co.,Ltd., Nippon Kaiko Co., Ltd,
Suitokougyo CO.,LTD., Nihon Mikuniya Corporation,
KANSAI HARBOUR SERVICE CO.,LTD, OSAKA SAISEKI Co., Ltd., E-MATERIAL,
Daito Co.,Ltd, OSW CO.,LTD., IZUTANI ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION CO.,LTD.,
Institute of Regional Resource, DAINETSU Co. Ltd,.,
Izumiotsu Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., YUTAKA-KOGYOSHO.CO.,LTD,
Sento Kogyo Co.ltd., Hankyu ferry Co., Ltd., SAYKEE Enterprise,
Kyoboshi Co., Ltd., Kobelco Eco-Maintenance o.,Ltd.,
Sumiju Environmental Engineering,Co.Ltd., Kasutani Fishing Net MFG.Co,LTD,
Sharp Corporation, Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd., ORD CO.,LTD.,
FUJINO KOUGYO Co., Ltd., Arc Geo Support Co., LTD.,
CIFER Osaka Bay supporter
Annual membership fee for supportersIndividuals:3,000 yen
Corporation or group: 10,000 yen
Advantages of membership
(1) Mail news from CIFER core
(2) Participation in seminars or symposiums hosted by CIFER core without entry
fees
(3) Introduction of the members at the homepage of CIFER core
(4) Companionship and exchange of information between members
Administrative agency relating to CIFER core
Osaka PrefectureSakai City
Takaishi City
Izumiotsu City
Kishiwada City
Kaizuka City
Tadaoka Town
Misaki Town
Participation sign-up and questions
CIFER core bureau:in Sakai Business Incubation Center Inc. (S-Cube)
130-42, Nagasone-town, Kita-ward, Sakai-city,
Osaka- prefecture
postal code: 591-8025,
TEL :81-72-267-4880
FAX :81-72-267-4893
Email :cifer-bureau[at]cifer-core.jp
(Please replace [at] with @ for real address)
URL :http://cifer-core.jp