【Interview】Coral Conservation Activities in the Pacific Side of Shikoku Coasts
Channel: CCCA
Date: 2021-09-16

This is an interview with Mr. Mezaki, the director of the Kuroshio Biological Research Institute, and other members of the staff working on ecosystem conservation and research surveys in Kochi Prefecture and the Pacific side of Shikoku Coasts.

High temperatures in summer have caused coral bleaching in Shikoku since 1998. This has resulted in impacts on local species and an increasing number of corals coming from southern seas. Besides, outbreaks of Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) that damage corals by eating have been observed since around 2004.

The Kuroshio Biological Research Institute undertakes public awareness activities and environmental education to the local residents and students, as well as monitoring to understand impacts on corals appropriately. Research studies and conservation activities based on its knowledge and experiences of diverse marine organisms play an important role for promotion of adaptation taking into account local characteristics.

[The Kuroshio Biological Research Institute]
https://kuroshio.or.jp/
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)