Major Coral Bleaching Incident off Amami-Oshima Island Raises Concerns

64
2
Major Coral Bleaching Incident off Amami-Oshima Island Raises Concerns

Warmer ocean temperatures in the summer have led to a devastating coral bleaching incident off Amami-Oshima island, with 61.2 percent of corals being affected. The Amami Marine Life Research Association, under the leadership of Katsuki Oki, conducted thorough surveys to assess the damage caused by the bleaching event that occurred in August. The surveys, conducted between October and November, revealed a grim picture as all the 63 survey points displayed signs of corals being killed by bleaching.

The impact of the bleaching event was particularly severe in bays and reefs, such as Kasari Bay in Amami and Ongachi Bay in Yamato, where a higher mortality rate was observed. The damage inflicted by the bleaching was reminiscent of the significant coral bleaching incident that occurred in 1998, during which a large portion of corals in the area perished. According to the association, the rise in average ocean temperatures by up to 2 degrees higher than in 2023 during the summer months was likely the trigger for this latest bleaching event.

The ongoing rise in ocean temperatures, with average readings of 30.2 degrees in July and 30.4 degrees in August, has exacerbated the vulnerability of coral reefs in the region. The higher ocean temperatures, particularly in August, were notably 2.1 degrees higher than the same period in 2023. It was mentioned that the reduced frequency of typhoons near Japan contributed to the sustained high ocean temperatures, which further impeded the recovery of the affected corals. Despite past bleaching events and challenges like the outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish preying on corals, the corals had shown signs of recovery since 1998. However, the recent major bleaching incident has raised concerns, leading to a call for careful monitoring and conservation efforts to aid in the coral's recovery.