Throughout 1991 the pollution of Okinawa seashore waters caused by top red soil flowing into the ocean was a matter of concern to the island inhabitants. During and after construction, followed by precipitation, the top soil flows into the ocean. Although the environmental pressures foisted on the coral reef environment by recreational uses at this writing are not as severe as either starfish predation or runoff, it is envisioned to be a problem that can only intensify in the upcoming years. The normally warm Okinawan subtropical waters act as a natural magnet, attracting a myriad of people for recreational purposes. Once the coral is broken it is frequently overgrown with a light-inhibiting growth of algae and the area frequently degrades quite rapidly.
Many divers become enamored with collecting shelled mollusks.
This abhorrent practice destroys eggs,larvae,and disrupts the habitat of countless reef-associated organisms. All of the preceding recreational problems are collectively placing undue stress upon the fragile Okinawan marine environment. Birkeland, C. 1982. Birkeland, C. 1989. Muzik, K. 1985.