ashore in the waters surrounding Japan, in order to determine the actual state of this problem. It carries out its surveys in accordance with internationally uniform observation procedures. This is part of the Marine Pollution Monitoring Plan (MARPOLMON), a plan to globally constantly monitor marine pollution caused by oil, heavy metals and other pollutants.
According to the 1995 survey of the situation concerning tar balls adrift and washed ashore, tar balls have declined, compared with the preceding year, as a result of the reduction in tar balls adrift in the sea area of the Nansei Islands. However, tar balls washed ashore have increased, compared with the preceding year, as result of an increase in coastal areas of the Sea of Japan.
(4) Survey of the State of Flotsam Adrift at Sea
In recent years world attention is being focused on the marine pollution problem of harm to marine organisms caused by vinyl, styrofoam and other flotsam adrift at sea. JMSA has been using its patrol vessels to carry out visual surveys regularly in the 15 zones of the waters surrounding Japan since January 1991, in order to understand the actual situation concerning this flotsam problem.
According to the 1995 survey of the situation concerning flotsam washed ashore, styrofoam, vinyl and other petrochemical products accounted for about 70% of all flotsam washed ashore. This is a reduction in the number of objects of flotsam confirmed, compared with the preceding year.
(5) Promotion of Research Related to the Protection of the Marine Environment
In recent years, marine pollution caused by the increased production and use of diverse chemical substances has become a problem. Of these substances generally called chemicals, there are some whose names and properties are difficult to identify. It is for this reason that research to establish a systematic procedure of analysis to identify these substances quickly is being carried out under a three-year plan, over the period from the FY 1995 to FY 1997.
4. Surveillance and Law Enforcement to Protect the Marine Environment
In 1995, there were 859 cases of violating laws related to the marine environment that were sent to the prosecutor's office. The majority of these, 547, were cases of violating the Marine Pollution Prevention Law. This was followed by 172 cases of violating laws related to waste handling and cleanup, and then 102 cases of violating the Port Regulations Law. In addition, there were seven cases of violating the National Park Law and other laws related to the environment.
