The ‘Umi-no-Chizu’ (‘Map of the Sea’) project will use aerial measurement to map 90% of Japan’s shallow coastal waters (to a depth of 20m). This is a joint project by the Japan Hydrographic Association (JHA) and The Nippon Foundation. Regulatory, administrative management and jurisdiction issues have meant that less than roughly 2% of Japan’s coastal waters have been mapped to date. This has held back research and technological advances in fields including marine accidents, disaster prevention and mitigation, blue carbon, and understanding and preserving biodiversity. This project with JHA is part of The Nippon Foundation’s ongoing work to address these issues.
