World Oceans Day 2024
World Oceans Day 2024
It was truly an honor to attend the United Nations World Oceans Day conference in New York on Saturday as a youth delegate. To meet with global leaders and advocates of marine conservation was eye-opening and inspiring. I cannot fully express my gratitude to those who made this possible. Thank you so much.
Ever since I rewatched Mission Blue four times, I've been inspired by Sylvia Earle like many. I am still processing the conversation I had with the legend herself at the United Nations headquarters in New York on World Oceans Day.
She told me,
"There is no substitute for being in a place, seeing people who may speak a different language and have a different culture: a personal experience. Everything that everybody does makes a difference, especially times 8 billion. We need the laws and we need the policies to frame our behavior, but mostly it's about, what are you doing? If everybody chooses the right thing to do, we almost don't need the laws."
It can be easy to be caught up in the innovation of tourism as a catalyst for coral conservation. Still, we must remember that visiting a foreign place entails learning. By bringing that level of fundamental learning to informed education, the tourism industry can share the importance of protecting coral and minimize the impacts that tourists can create by trampling. Through storytelling, resort hotels and diving services can change the way tourists view corals when they see them for themselves.
Sylvia Earle encouraged this way of thinking when she told me, grasping my hands in hers: “I see tourism as a form of education. Tourism can be done in a terrible way but when used in creative, positive ways, it is the best tool in the box. Because if you don’t know, you can’t care. A lot of people don’t know. I think travel, getting to places you’ve only read about in the National Geographic like I did as a kid... now there’s television, phones, films, but there’s no substitute for being in the place, experiencing it.”
Sylvia is not only a marine biologist, oceanography, explorer, and writer. In that conversation with her, she felt a storyteller beyond anything. The stories she tells, in conferences, Ted Talks, and documentaries inspire many to do the same.
My Personal Storytelling Experience
Let’s dive into what storytelling can accomplish, through my personal experience as lecturer of the “Coral Nurturing Marine Environment Conservation Program” at Halekulani Okinawa, a Forbes 5-star hotel in Onna Village, Okinawa.
This one-hour complimentary program begins by introducing the geographical features of Okinawa and its ocean, then dives into corals: what they are, the crisis they face, and what we can do as individuals.
image drawn from Halekulani Okinawa's Activities website
Upon realizing that some of the content was too technical to remain in the guests’ memory, I took the approach of using only the coral samples and some pictures of corals from a kids' book. Instead of standing up as a lecturer, I sat down next to the guests as a fellow being connected to and awed by the sea. Through our interaction, the guests, especially the children, became more inquisitive to learn about the coral crisis, rather than simply be dismayed. It is tearful to understand that most corals will likely be gone by the end of the century. My eyes have been brought to tears several times. What’s more tearful, however, is that little can be done to prevent the larger issue of climate change. As long as the world continues to emit carbon into the atmosphere, Okinawa’s coral reefs, the fragile ecosystems that have held the coastal waters together for as long as the planet’s history, will be at the forefront of damage.
Amidst this reality, it is heartwarming to teach guests what is beyond our sight below the waves and witness the response of sincere concern. With effective storytelling, resort hotels can transform a guest’s visit of mere relaxation into a purposeful opportunity for education. If more tourists are given the facts and snorkel the coast, they will return to their homes and share with friends and family what they saw. It is no different from the Venetian explorer Marco Polo who studied and reported what he saw in China in the 13th century. The conversations that will spark and spread far away from Okinawa: that is another goal.
It was also exciting to share the conservation efforts led by local fishers since 1998 in Onna Village, where Halekulani Okinawa lies. They hold the world’s largest “coral farm”, which has cultivated over 30,000 young coral colonies before transplanting them into the wild. Locals developed their own “crack construction method” to efficiently raise corals. Onna Village has long cherished the benefits of coral reefs and are working to protect them, for which efforts they are known as a “Sustainable Development Goals Future City”. Onna was the first to implement “Green Fins”, list of guidelines from the United Nations Environment Programme for safe diving, snorkeling, and other marine activities without disturbing the environment.
Coral Acclimatization Research
In the summer of 2023, I was privileged to be an intern at Professor Ravasi’s research unit in the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Marine Climate Change Unit, which studies how marine ecosystems are affected by the changing environment caused by climate change. While I went to the OIST Marine Station several times to work on a clownfish sedimentation project with a PhD student, I spent most of my time inside working on genomic analyses.
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What role do genomic analyses play in the conservation of the marine environment?
The simple answer is: to speed up acclimatization.
Every living organism, including ourselves, has a genome. It is a long strand of DNA that defines differences between organisms and species. In an ocean plagued by rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, eutrophication, and so on, scientists have tried to find out what species are better adapting to the changing environment. That’s where genomic analyses come in. If we can pinpoint which strand of DNA is found in the adapted species, whether it be corals or coral reef fishes, we can then conduct what is called “selective DNA methylation”. This exciting technology may allow us in the future to genetically modify corals and coral reef fishes in the same way we do to fruits, sugars, oils, etc.
some images of the aquaria at the OIST Marine Station
However, there are two concerns in introducing genetically adapted coral species or coral reef fishes. Yes, it is logical to create a “super coral” or “super fish” that can survive in future conditions, but if we do that on a genome-wide scale, it could disturb the ecosystem by altering habitats, spurring new competition, and reducing biodiversity. What humans thought was beneficial for the environment may not turn out to be. Take the example of the mongoose in Okinawa: in 1910 these mammals were introduced on the island to control the population of venomous snakes known locally as “Habu”. However, the mongoose don’t prefer to eat Habu, especially because they are nocturnal, while mongoose are active during the day.
On the other hand, we have the issue of ethics. In 2019 a Chinese researcher genetically modified two babies to make them immune to HIV infection. His gene-editing project faced a lot of criticism from around the world regarding medical ethics. This is also something to consider with coral mutations.
Professor Ravasi and I agreed that while scientists need to continue unraveling the mysteries of marine life, the feasibility of developing technologies must be assessed with wisdom, both ecologically and ethically.
Collaborative Conservation Efforts: Academia and Resort Hotels
In early August 2024, the Okinawan government reported that the tourism revenue of 2023 was 856.3 billion yen, the highest ever. Over 8.5 million tourists visited Japan, quickly returning to pre-Covid levels. At first glance, it is good news that the industry Okinawa so heavily relies on back to its flourishing days. However, it is imperative to consider how the impact of tourism can be minimized.
In the literature paper “Restoring Reefs, Empowering Communities: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Tourism in Okinawa’s Coral Reefs”, the impacts of tourism on coral reefs are explained: pollution and sedimentation, trampling, and coastal alteration. Collaborative efforts that promote conservation, spreading awareness, and education can not only mitigate local stressors on coral reefs but also protect Okinawa’s 800 billion yen tourism industry.
Conservation involving resort hotels are the hope and theme of Coralliance | Conserving, Collaborating, Catalyzing.
​Academic Institutions and the Tourism Industry
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In 2011, the Clownfish Restoration Project in Nago, Okinawa was initiated by Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island Okinawa and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Marine Climate Change Unit (Timothy Ravasi), a project through which tourists staying at the Hyatt Regency can explore the clownfish nursery area.
​​Observing that the local clownfish population has dropped due to coastal reclamation and butchery, the Marine Climate Change Unit led by Professor Ravasi collects wild clownfish and restores pairs of clownfish that have spawned and grown into juveniles in aquaria at the Marine Science Station. In collaboration, the Hyatt Regency takes guests on snorkeling and diving experiences, along with a lecture to raise awareness about environmental conservation. In addition, the Hyatt Regency provides a “Coral seedling creation” experiences for guests to get involved hands-on with restoration efforts led by Professor Noriyuki Satoh’s Marine Genomics Unit at OIST. This is another program for guests to learn about the coral bleaching crisis in Okinawa.
I had the pleasure of working at the OIST Marine Science Station during my research internship. Here, there are many aquaria with high technology such as precisely adjusting water temperatures and levels of sedimentation and salinity. On several occasions I cleaned the tanks in which the clownfish are kept. (image left)
Not only is the Marine Station a place to better understand the nature of coral reef fish, their metabolic rates and gene activity, but also a resource for restoration.
image from OIST Marine Climate Change Unit
The Onna Fisheries Cooperative:
Indigenous Knowledge, Sustainable Management, Partnerships and more
What makes the Onna Fisheries Cooperative stand apart from other fisheries is their passionate effort in coral conservation beyond their seaweed farming business. They first began testing seaweed farming methods in 1973 and first harvested in 1977. Since then, they have developed methods to grow three types of seaweeds: Mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus), Sea grapes (Latok), and sea lettuce. The cooperative has received three notable awards over the years: the Fisheries Agency Commissioner’s Award (1995), Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in the fishing ground conservation category (2007), and the Emperor’s Cup at the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Festival (2011). These locals have not only used their indigenous knowledge to produce seaweed, but paved the way for conservation efforts beyond Onna Village. Along with seaweed cultivation, they are involved in the extermination of crown-of-thorns starfish, which are natural predators of corals, prevention of red soil runoff, and monitoring marine pollution. Although crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks were a significant issue in 1998, the Onna Fisheries Cooperative has decreased their numbers to almost none.
Onna Fisheries Cooperative
Igeta Takeuchi (processing company)
As I interviewed the management team in their office in Maeganeku, Onna Village, I felt that the Fisheries Cooperative’s passion was not only to continue developing new production technologies but also to nurture the ocean on which they have relied for generations. One important aspect of their business is ” Collaborative Creation”. In 2003 the Cooperative partnered with a seaweed processing company in the Tottori Prefecture, responsible for seasoning and sales. With this partnership, the consumption of the harvested seaweed has spread to 29 prefectures across Japan.
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In 2009, the two businesses created a fund from part of the profit to promote the coral farming project in the Onna Village. While this project was initiated in 1998, the “Collaborative Creation” model allows the processing company to contribute to stabilizing seaweed production. This comes from the understanding that Okinawa’s coral reefs are crucial for marine life including seaweeds. Bleaching events have made production levels drop in the past; amidst rising sea temperatures and loss of coral reef habitats, the Onna Village Cooperative has expanded its individual project to a corporate effort with local leaders, tourism-related businesses, and stakeholders outside Okinawa.
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A manager shared with me the importance of "value-added", an economic concept highlighting the increased utility of a product earned through partnership. The price of this seaweed is the highest in the market, and it is for this reason.
A coral farm (left) and Mozuku (seaweed) farm (right), both in Onna Vilalge
The document lays out plans to advance the “Satoumi” Seaweed production method, effective management, and networking. With regards to tourism, the Cooperative intends to continue diving, snorkeling, sightseeing and education opportunities around the coral farm, along with fishing and cuisine tasting. (image below drawn from the document)
The managers also shared with me their strong emphasis on giving back to the community. Every year, the Fisheries Cooperative staff voluntarily prepare over 20 field trips for local elementary and middle schoolers to the coral farm on “Glass boats” with see-through bottoms. There are also opportunities to visit the seaweed farms.
In fact, local legislation has inputted this outdoor learning experience as part of the education curriculum in a way that local children can return to their classrooms and give presentations. Ever since the mayor of Onna Village declared it to be a “Village of Coral”, the Fisheries Cooperative has fully supported conservation and education initiatives. I was amazed by the sacrifice they make in terms of finance, effort, and time in order that local children can learn without opening their wallets.
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The Onna Fisheries Cooperative has also been involved with the nearby Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) to collect data and plan coral conservation methods. For decades, locals have understood that healthy coral reefs are crucial for healthy seaweed production. However, their asexual reproduction method faced some backlash from the academic community. With the expertise of researchers at OIST, however, they were able to scientifically prove that asexually reproducing corals on vertical foundations close to the shore does not pose significant challenges. The manager told me that he is thankful for OIST because the Fishery’s conservation efforts has been backuped with scientific evidence, not only to present it to the academic community but also to seaweed consumers.
The coral farm is made up of almost 500 thousand coral fragments as seen in the image. Sadly, with unprecedentedly high sea temperatures, much of the corals were bleached or partly-bleached. Locals are hoping for a typhoon to directly hit the island of Okinawa so that the sea temperatures will drop, buying time for corals to recover their symbiotic zooxanthellae. Beyond the inner reef were natural corals inhabited by many fishes including damselfish and butterflyfish, which were healthier in terms of bleaching. I am glad that the valuable experience of seeing these corals is not limited to locals like myself but also to foreign and mainland visitors. Just like what Sylvia Earle, the explorer of oceanic depths only she has stepped into, told me, there is no better educational experience than witnessing bleaching firsthand.
As seen in this image, many of the coral formations off of the natural reef were in relatively good shape. This area is mostly made up of table corals, because branching corals cannot withstand the strong waves. The corals here are known to be a natural barrier against strong waves during storms and prevents coastal erosion.
Even from the boat, the coral bleaching on the edge of the reef was clearly visible. The white line is on the border between the inner reef and outer sea. While the inner reef, also know as the "oasis of the sea", is calm and inhabited by many reef fishes, the outer sea is rather empty, and known as the "desert of the sea". ​
Another thing I noticed is simply how many resort hotels are on the coast: four to be exact. Unless the rising tourism industry is managed, these corals that locals have protected for so long, may be in danger.
Rethinking Coral Restoration
~ A Blue Economy Model in Okinawa’s Tourism Industry ~
I visited Professor Shunichi Takahashi at the University of the Ryukyus Tropical Biosphere Research Center on Sesoko Island, Okinawa. Here, Professor Takahashi leads the latest research on biological mechanisms in corals. This article will provide an overview of some groundbreaking research that may transform local approaches to restoration efforts in Okinawa. Furthermore, future implications for collaborating with resort hotels for education and restoration opportunities will be discussed.
Fluorescence and Genetic Sequences
Let’s begin with some interesting facts that Professor Takahashi has clarified. Corals live in symbiosis with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae which conducts photosynthesis and provides the coral symbiont (parent body) with nutrients. While corals have tentacles to
a fragment of coral
emitting green fluorescence
intake food from the seawater, they mostly rely on these nutrients. For a long time, it was thought that corals have fluorescent proteins that act as a “sunscreen”, blocking excessive ultraviolet sunlight from reaching the zooxanthellae. In fact, purple and ultraviolet lights can damage the photosynthesis mechanism within algae. However, Professor Takahashi noticed that the wavelengths of ultraviolet sunlight and the light emitted by corals were slightly different. Considering that corals, due to specific genetic sequences, can produce blue, green, yellow, red, and purple light, he discovered that certain fluorescence has the role of attracting zooxanthellae, not protecting them once intact. Zooxanthellae have a characteristic known as phototaxis, which refers to the movement toward or from certain light. Because the density of zooxanthellae in the ocean is incredibly low, corals emit endogenous green fluorescent proteins (GFP) to easily intake zooxanthellae from the surrounding environment. The latest molecular biology technology makes it possible to accurately analyze fluorescence on the nanometer scale and pinpoint the specific genetic sequences that make it so. However, the relationship between specific lights and their role in corals is yet to be fully discovered.
Implementing Genetic Technologies to Coral Reefs
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​It is easy to wonder if identifying and replicating “superior” genetic characteristics against rising sea temperatures could potentially save coral reefs from local extinction. If scientific technologies continue to develop, manipulating genetic sequences may become possible in the near future. Opinions differ among scientists; here I would like to share Professor Takahashi’s argument as to why this must not be conducted. “Coral Conservation” is a term often raised in the light of climate change; however, he does not consider genetic manipulation to be included in this notion. Hypothetically, artificial coral types could grow healthily in the coastal environment; however, it will destroy the habitat of natural coral reefs. Even if transplantation is successful and survival rates are high, they do not conserve the “Nature” of corals at all. Current transplantation efforts barely restore 0.1% of the entire coral ecosystem. It is more important to tackle the fundamental cause of climate change, not “clean up its mess”. Greta Thunberg, the climate activist from Sweden, uses the metaphor of an overflowing bathtub in The Climate Book (2024).
“When your bathtub is about to overflow, you don’t go looking for buckets or start covering the floor with towels – you start by turning off the tap, as soon as you possibly can. Leaving the water running means ignoring or denying the problem, delaying doing anything to resolve it and downplaying its consequences.” ​
The Univ. of the Ryukyus Tropical Biosphere Research Center on Sesoko Island features indoor and outdoor marine aquaria which are used for experiments such as coral adaptation.
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Recently, this facility has been used for the cultivation of Epinephelus, a popular marine ray-finned fish, known as one of "Okinawa's Three Luxurious Fishes". This facility uniquely uses seawater straight from the ocean through pumps, making it an ideal setting to recreate marine environments for experiments.
Although Thunberg is a relatively controversial figure, this metaphor captures the inefficiency of coral restoration unless climate change itself is absolutely tackled. Professor Takahashi noted the 2010 movie Sunshine Ahead, which depicts the first Okinawan man’s attempt to restore the beauty of Okinawa’s coral reefs. The movie portrays scientists who warn him as a hindrance to his dream and mission. Professor Takahashi told me that this advice was not to be ignored, considering that the survival rate of farmed/transplanted corals is less than 20%. 20 years have passed since Okinawans first began coral farming and transplanting, but the survival rates remain low. Professor Takahashi used the metaphor of a pet cat to explain the reason: no pet cat can survive in the wild after being raised in a comfortable environment inside, protected from all dangers. A period of “environmental adaptation” is required to increase adaptation rates. To do this, Professor Takahashi intends to utilize his expertise in zooxanthellae specimens to pair corals with the appropriate zooxanthellae before transplantation to increase their chance of survival in the long term. This effort can be enhanced by inputting specific algae in the prediction of future marine environments.
The indoor laboratory features several high-technology tools such as microscopes, temperature controllers, and a machine that calculates the density of zooxanthellae within a certain sample. Using a microscope, I was able to see a zooxanthellae, whose size is about 0.001 millimeters, otherwise known as 1 micrometer. To study zooxanthellae, sea anemone samples are taken as a substitute for corals because they are easier to manage indoors.
Busena Marine Park
The Relationship to Tourism
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Based on this harsh reality of coral transplantation, what is the significance and role of farming and transplantation efforts done by resort hotels in Okinawa? Professor Takahashi looks at it this way: transplantation of corals should not be labeled as “conservation efforts”; rather, they should be efforts to create an artificial coral environment for tourists to experience and enjoy. To better understand this, let us imagine a park in the middle of a city. Trees and bushes are planted within it, but it is considered as a “natural habitat”. Likewise, coral transplantation should be an effort to replicate a coral habitat while connecting it to education, sightseeing, and opportunities for tourists to get hands-on involved with carrying farmed corals to transplantation sights. This may eventually lead to coral restoration, but it must not be the proclaimed mission from the start, as it will give tourists the wrong impression of supporting this cause.
The Blue Economy ​​
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A few years ago, Professor Takahashi advised Halekulai Okinawa in Onna Village to stop their “coral conservation” program, as it is technically a waste of time and money, given the low survival rates of transplanted corals. He considers them to be wise and accepts his suggestion, while many other hotels continue their business. Moving forward, an environmentally friendly approach is necessary. Hotels should announce that old methods did not work, and spread evidence-based decision making in partnership with experts such as Takahashi. Coral conservation programs in hotels could attract many tourists and produce revenue to invest back in coral transplantation.
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The circular model of investing revenue from coral conservation programs back into developing coral research and even better restoration technology is at the core of the Blue Economy. In order to achieve this in Okinawa, resort hotels must rely on partnerships with scientific experts, and understand that while education and gathering donations is a business opportunity, it entails an ethical responsibility to create a meaningful impact on the local environment. ​
Coral Bleaching and Coral Spawning: Reason for Hope
Based on the learning I gained from Professor Takahashi, I would like to introduce the peculiar characteristics of coral spawning, a once-in-a-year event that occurs in June. In collaboration with a researcher from Taiwan, Professor Takahashi unveiled several mysteries of coral spawning. In the following days of a full moon, corals release eggs and sperm into the seawater which fertilizes in favorable conditions. Although it was believed that the light of a full moon initiates these events, data analyses by Takahashi showed that the light of a full moon is in fact a “stop signal” that prevents corals from spawning. Once the light of the sun and moon are both absent, corals spawn without the “stop signal”. With the exception of Acropora, most coral species spawn a few days after a full moon. It is spectacular how these corals, without communicating, perfectly match the timing of spawning. Even a 10-minute delay could significantly increase the probability of the eggs and sperm growing into independent coral formations. Many mysteries remain, including how some corals never mix genes with certain corals, determining the month of spawning, how far eggs and sperm travel before fertilizing, and the expelling of zooxanthellae in the bleaching process.
Ryukyu Shimpo
Professor Takahashi shared with me his perspective on coral bleaching from a “mechanism” perspective. It has been long believed that corals expel their zooxanthellae when they stop producing nutrients following the rise in sea tempeartures. However, Takahashi has proven that that is not the case. Rather, corals switch out their symbiotic zooxanthellae regardless of stress from rising sea temperatures. For centuries, these organisms have evolved by repeatedly expelling and welcoming new algae. Although it is a risk, it is an important process that helps them adapt to changing environments, such as salinity, temperature, turbidity, and sunlight levels.
Ithe ocean landscape in front of the facility
It is important to note that the change in the marine environment has been gradual for most part of history. The increase in sea temperatures is unprecedented, and it poses an existential threat to corals, which can only live for a month in a bleached state.
​However, Professor Takahashi is very positive regarding the future of corals reefs, as he does not think they will disappear in the next 100, 200 years. Yet while the threat of extinction remains, he feels the need to continue utilizing his research into restoration efforts in Okinawa.
What was most interesting to me about the effects of coral bleaching is the possibility of new coral types. As mentioned before, corals spawn during a very specific time gap. This period varies depending on the coral type. If certain corals fail to adapt to the effects of climate change, there will be gaps in “coral’s time schedule” as Takahashi calls. This opens new opportunities for certain genes to mix in ways never before, giving birth to indepdent coral specimens that are better suited to hotter environments. Furthermore, the habitatble regions of corals may move north, away from the Equator. Takahashi joked, “can you imagine coral reefs on the coast of Tokyo?”. All in all, it is no exaggeration to say that Humanity is not only changing the physical and chemical features of the marine environment; it transforms the mechanisms of the organisms themselves.
University of the Ryukyus Tropical Biosphere Research Center on Sesoko Island
Kuroshio Biological Research Institute
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Generally, domed-shaped corals (left), are better adapted to higher sea temperatures than branching corals (right) due to biological differences such as density and photosynthesis capabilities.
All Articles are written by Coralliance founder Hideto Ikehara. If not cited from a specific source, all images are owned by Hideto Ikehara.