Voluntary rules

Drift Ice and Bird Watching Self-Imposed Rules

1. Purpose

These rules are established and self-imposed by the nonprofit organization “Shiretoko Ra-ushi” and Shiretoko Aruran Corp., a company that operates a nature watching ship, with an aim to protect the environment and habitat in which wild animals — which are precious natural resources not only in the Shiretoko region but across the globe — can behave naturally. The rules are applied when observing birds such as white-tailed sea eagles and Steller’s sea eagles as well as marine animals such as Stellar sea lions and seals in the Nemuro Strait off the Shiretoko Peninsula, when the seasonal sea ice is present.

In order to achieve the above goal, the nonprofit organization “Shiretoko Ra-ushi” and Shiretoko Aruran Corp. establish these rules, in cooperation with the town of Rausu, the Rausu Coast Guard Office and the Ministry of the Environment East Hokkaido District Nature Conservation Office.

2. Name of self-imposed rules and waters where they are applied

The established self-imposed rules are applied to all waters in the Nemuro Strait where nature watching activities take place during the drift ice season, and are referred to as the “Shiretoko and Rausu Drift Ice Season Self-Imposed Rules.”

3. Priority on the safety of passengers and preservation of birds’ habitat

  1. Safety comes first when operating nature watching cruises, and therefore should not conduct wildlife observation in dangerous waters.
  2. When observing wildlife, proceed at low speed or bring the ship to halt, and should not take any actions that intimidate the birds.
  3. Passengers are not allowed to land on the sea ice, under any circumstances.
  4. When staff members of the nonprofit organization “Shiretoko Ra-ushi” board the ship, they should cooperate with and follow the instructions given by the captain, paying attention to the safety of passengers and observing appropriate procedures to prevent accidents.
  5. The safety of the passengers is the top priority also when performing biological research or covering for the media, and therefore should follow the instructions given by the captain in any circumstances.

4. Wildlife to which self-imposed rules are to be applied

The wildlife to which the “Shiretoko and Rausu Drift Ice Season Self-Imposed Rules” are applied shall be deemed to be the birds such as white-tailed sea eagles and Steller’s sea eagles and the marine animals such as Stellar sea lions and seals that are seen during the drift ice season.

5. Rules to be followed when feeding animals

The rules below are to be followed when feeding wild animals such as white-tailed sea eagles and Steller’s sea eagles during the drift ice season:

  1. The nonprofit organization “Shiretoko Ra-ushi” and Shiretoko Aruran Corp. perform feeding activities on white-tailed sea eagles and Steller’s sea eagles, solely for the purpose of their preservation and reproduction. These animals are fed with local fish such as Alaska pollock and sculpins so that their nature as fishing birds is not disturbed.
  2. The above activities are performed to prevent birds of prey from feeding in dump sites that are mainly comprised of industrial waste treatment plants, and to prevent lead poisoning that may arise as a result of eating these game animals. The feeding activities are to be reconsidered upon achieving the environment where the above two situations can be prevented.

6. Upon performing research or covering for media

If it is expected that a party performing research or covering for media is to go near the wild animals targeted by the “Shiretoko and Rausu Drift Ice Season Self-Imposed Rules,” it should submit a research plan or proposal to the chairman of the nonprofit organization “Shiretoko Ra-ushi” and obtain his permission beforehand.

Photo shooting and other research activities performed underwater, except in the cases where they are guided by experienced local divers, are not permitted.

7. Others

All the other matters that are thought to be necessary are to be considered when the need arises by the nonprofit organization “Shiretoko Ra-ushi” and Shiretoko Aruran Corp., upon discussing with the town of Rausu, the Rausu Coast Guard Office, bureaus related to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of the Environment East Hokkaido District Nature Conservation Office.

Date of establishment: October 25, 2005