Editorial article:
Japan is Losing it's Coral
Coral bleaching in progress
Reefs in Okinawa prefecture are dangered by new disease "white syndrome". After being infected by this still unknown disease, the coral dies usually within one year. After coral turns white, the sea weed starts to grow in it. What used to be beautiful, colourful coral, now is turned into dead base of green sea weed that eats away rest of the energy.
Researcher Akiyuki Irikawa discovered this happening in Amurojima island, part of the Kerama islands. Results of his studies were shocking. About 30 percent of the table coral was infected by white syndrome. The white syndrome spreads fast, about 20 centimeters per month. Syndrome can spread almost two and half meters in a year.
Higher ocean temperatures caused by global warming seems to be what causes the white syndrome.
Japan's largest coral reef is in the Sekisei Lagoon, between the Ishigakijima and Iriomotejima islands. Biologists found white syndrome also there in 2003.
Shiraho Coral Reef in Okinawa prefecture is also in danger. Green Peace is working hard to try to make it World Heritage Site.
Coral reef in south of Okinawa
Is it too late to rescue this fragile life form that supports many other ecosystems of the ocean? While it seems that the coral bleaching can be reversed if the ocean temperatures would fall, after infection, there is no rescue for coral itself, because the disease tears away the coral tissue, exposing the "bone" of the coral.
Coral is the tropical forest of the Ocean, because it supports so many other life forms, giving shelter and room. Without it, various life forms such as star fish simply have no chance (or place) to live.
Global warming has maybe more sudden impacts to our environment than we could ever imagine. We only wish that we humans could rapidly improve the situation, before it's too late.
Before my eyes, I can see sad faces of Japanese pearl divers who grief upon the stupidity of human being.
Japanese Coral Reef Society is distributing information about the coral reef's situation. If you want to help them to do their task of increasing public awareness, please join them at: http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/jcrs/english
