Japan

Kelp forest management in Japan is primarily implemented through fisheries cooperatives. Since 2009, the Japanese Fisheries Agency has operated a kelp restoration subsidy programme that supports fisheries-focused conservation. The programme links local cooperatives, prefectural governments, and national institutions to resource locally defined targets. Between 2022 and 2024, 302–310 local working groups participated annually.

Knowledge generation and transfer have also been formalised through the Isoyake Taisaku Guidelines, now in their third edition; the most recent version (2021) is available in English (Japanese Fisheries Agency 2021).

Japan became the first country to include carbon stored by seaweed in its national emissions inventory submitted to the UNFCCC in 2024 (National Institute for Environmental Studies 2025). Japan reported approximately 350,000 tonnes of CO₂ absorption by seagrass and seaweed beds in 2022. Uncertainties remain, however, regarding the long-term persistence of macroalgal-derived dissolved organic carbon (Kennedy and Blain 2025; Nishihara et al. 2025).

Despite critiques, Japan’s voluntary blue carbon credit scheme (J-Blue Credit) has expanded substantially, encompassing 61 blue carbon projects, with 67.2% targeting macroalgal beds and seaweed farming, and 471 certified transactions. The programme primarily engages fishers, followed by municipalities, private companies, local collectives, local organisations, and academic institutions (including schools and universities) (Kuwae, pers. comms.).

In parallel, the Ministry of the Environment has maintained long-term ecological monitoring via Monitoring Site 1000, spanning terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Of the 1,000 total sites, six kelp and fucoid forest sites have been monitored annually since 2008 (Terada et al. 2021). This programme has documented population declines and local disappearances at two sites in Shimoda (Ecklonia and Sargassum) (Terada et al. 2021) and Satsuma-Nagashima (Ecklonia) (Terada 2025). Annual monitoring reports are publicly available in Japanese (biodic.go.jp/moni1000/findings/newsflash/).

Future kelp forest conservation and restoration can be supported by two national planning instruments revised every five years and approved by Cabinet: the Basic Plan for Fisheries and the Long-Term Plan for the Development of Fishing Ports and Fishing Grounds. The Fisheries Agency’s annual Isoyake Countermeasure Council provides a recurring forum for sharing case studies and perspectives across Japan.

The Ministry of the Environment is also promoting kelp forest conservation through Japan’s 30x30 initiative. The Blue Credit scheme has further incentivised participation in kelp stewardship. Kelp forests also gained visibility through programming at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, including social media-oriented conservation content.