Marine Pollution in Northern Kyushu - Current Status in the 2020s

Marine Pollution in Northern Kyushu - Current Status in the 2020s

Marine pollution in northern Kyushu continues to be a serious problem in the 2020s. According to data released by the 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in 2023, approximately 60 incidents of marine pollution were reported annually in northern Kyushu, 35 of which were due to oil pollution. This includes ship accidents and waste oil spills from factories. In Kitakyushu City, where the shipping industry is particularly active, several incidents of oil leakage from tankers have been confirmed.

In addition to oil pollution from petroleum and diesel fuel, other substances that have received attention in the 2020s include a serious influx of microplastics and toxic chemicals. Waste dumping, which accounts for about 20% of marine pollution, contains a large amount of microplastics, especially in Hakata Bay near Fukuoka City, where large amounts of plastic products and their fine fragments drift ashore. Nitrogen and phosphorus in agricultural wastewater are also a problem, and the excessive release of these nutrients has led to an increase in the number of red tides; in 2022, a large-scale red tide occurred off the Goto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture, causing extensive damage to the fishing industry.

Corporate responsibility is also being questioned, particularly with regard to the proper disposal of industrial waste generated by major companies such as Nippon Oil Corporation (now EENEOS) and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, which have factories in Kitakyushu City. In 2021, a chemical spill at a plant in Kitakyushu City raised concerns about water pollution in nearby waters.

Since the beginning of the 2020s, the national government, local governments, and companies in the Kyushu region have been working together to strengthen measures against marine pollution. For example, Kitakyushu City has launched the "Zero Marine Plastic Promotion Plan" for 2022 and is working with local companies to reduce microplastics. In addition, ENEOS and Mitsubishi Chemical are introducing technologies to reduce harmful substances in factory wastewater and are building production systems that utilize renewable energy.

However, oil spills by domestic and foreign vessels and improper waste disposal remain major issues, and the marine environment in northern Kyushu remains challenging.