History of Coastal Cleanup Activities and Community Revitalization - Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture

History of Coastal Cleanup Activities and Community Revitalization - Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture

In 2000, Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture launched the "Wajima Coastal Cleanup Project" to protect the rich natural environment of the Noto Peninsula. The project aims to balance tourism and fisheries, and is a collaborative effort between citizens' groups, a local company called "Wajima Environmental Development Corporation," a fishery cooperative, and the local government. In the initial stage, a total of more than 2,000 people participated in the monthly "Wajima Coastal Cleanup Day," and more than 40 tons of debris were collected annually. In addition, a seaweed bed restoration project has been implemented, which has promoted the growth of seaweed and other ecosystem protection results.

2010s: Results and Expansion of Activities
In the 2010s, significant progress was made in the restoration of seaweed beds. In particular, the growth of Noto red seaweed and wakame seaweed improved, and the seaweed bed area expanded to 1.5 times its original size. As a result, fishery revenues increased by 15%, making a significant contribution to the local economy. In addition, funding and technical support from local companies for cleanup activities has been strengthened, and cleanup efficiency has improved. The number of tourists also increased, and the project was recognized as a model case of how environmental protection activities can be linked to regional development.

During this period, the effects of global warming also began to become more pronounced, and the abalone and turban shell populations tended to decline. In response, the local fishing cooperative and "Wajima Environmental Development Co. In addition, the "Marine Environment Learning Program" for local children was expanded and has grown to a scale where approximately 500 children participate in the program each year.

2020s: New Issues and Challenges
In the 2020s, activities were further expanded: by 2022, the annual amount of debris collected reached 60 tons, and a total of 3,000 people participated in cleanup activities. The area of seaweed beds regenerated doubled from the start, and fishing revenues increased by 20%. In addition, a "Zero Marine Plastic" awareness campaign was launched throughout Ishikawa Prefecture, and the trash separation rate reached 75% in Wajima City.

However, the effects of climate change remain serious. Due to rising sea surface temperatures, landings of abalone and turban shells have dropped to 70% of the average in the 2010s. In response, "Wajima Environmental Development Corporation" has introduced a seawater temperature monitoring system using AI technology to improve the efficiency of seaweed bed restoration.

In addition, the "Wajima Marine Environment Fund," established in 2021, has received more than 100 million yen in donations from all over Japan to introduce new technology and strengthen the foundation of its activities. Based on this fund, the construction of a sustainable environmental protection model for the entire region is accelerating.

Conclusion
Wajima City's coastal cleanup efforts have developed over the past 20 years in harmony with the local community and the natural environment, and through laying the groundwork in the 2000s, expanding activities in the 2010s, and taking on new challenges in the 2020s, the city is recognized as a national model case for environmental protection. This initiative represents one direction for sustainable communities of the future.