Environment Sensitivity Analysis for near Shore Region Using GIS Based ESI Map

• Main Authors: Goto Shintaro, Yazaki Masumi, Hamada Seiichi, Sawano Nobuhiro, Sao Kunihisa, Sao Kazuko
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: Society for Social Management Systems 2006
• Subjects: Oil Spill Accident; ESI (Environment Sensitivity Index) Map; Socio-economic information; Okhotsk; Sakhalin
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10173/1586; https://kutarr.kochi-tech.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=799; https://kutarr.kochi-tech.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=799&item_no=1&attribute_id=21&file_no=1

Recently, hazard maps relating to various types of natural disasters like flood, landslide, volcanic activity and earthquake have become common in Japan. Along with these, ESI (Environmental Sensitivity Index) maps for oil spill have also been prepared. However, practical use of ESI has not always fully examined. On the other hands, ESI mapping guidelines have been originally prepared by U.S. OR&R of NOAA (Office of Response and Restoration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and they have already finished preparing GIS based ESI maps for environmental sensitivity covering whole extent of their shoreline. The natures of ESI guidelines are principally reflecting their own culture, social and economic condition. In this study, fishery damage and its economic loss is defined as one of the major component of “environmental sensitivity” because the Sea of Okhotsk is known as one the best fishing grounds in the world and fishery industries have been underpinning Hokkaido local economy. And damage risk will be increased by Sakhalin oil and gas developing projects in the Sea of Okhotsk. This study proposes an example of ESI guideline containing fishery data around Abashiri city facing the Sea of Okhotsk. ESI maps containing information on fish catch and precise fishing grounds are thought to be able to solve conflictions between stakeholders for managing spill incident and compensation.