【Special lssues】 Ocean Dumping and Contaminated Sediment
Current Status on the Disposal of Dredged Material in Japanese Ports and Harbors
Toshiro Tanabe
Waterfront Vitalization and Environment Research Center
（Barque Shibaura, 6F 3-26-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0022 Japan）

Abstract
Riding on the trend to uphold “sustainable development” principles, international expectations for programs to protect the marine environment are expanding. In Japan, the Marine Pollution Prevention Law was revised, and a new framework is now under development for the ocean disposal of dredged materials and other wastes. Further attention is expected to be placed on areas such as proper management and beneficial use of dredged material. For this reason, the Ports and Harbors Bureau for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport are proactively working on these specific points even at present.
This paper provides an overview of the current status and future perspective for the beneficial use of dredged material, which continues to gain further importance when looking down the line at the status of dredged material generated and disposed of in ports and harbors, and the rising national and international expectations for conservation of marine environments.

Key words: dredged materials; ocean disposal; beneficial use; conservation of marine environments