Endangered Reefs

As the sun's rays filtered through to the seabed, fish could be seen swimming against white sand and near a coral reef at Okinotorishima island, 1,740 kilometers from Tokyo.
In late March, I accompanied a private research team to the nation's southernmost point, and was treated to a dazzling display of nature.
The coral reef lies in shallow waters and has a perimeter of 11 kilometers. The reef encircles two tiny islands, Kitakojima and Higashikojima, which rise only 10 centimeters above sea level at high tide. But they could be lost forever if the greenhouse effect causes the sea level to rise as scientists predict.
This would have a geopolitical effect on Japan, as Okinotorishima is the center of the country's exclusive economic zone in this part of the world.
Created by the accumulation of calcic coral and forams, single-celled protozoans with shells, over a long period of time, the islands would be imperiled if the coral dies off and the reef can no longer protect them from the pounding waves. As an interim measure, a concrete wall has been built to hold back the surging seas.
When I dived, I could only see a few areas where the coral was still thriving.
A member of the research team--an experienced diver--wondered if the coral had been eaten by starfish or had died off because of changes in the sea temperature.
Scientists expect the sea level to rise up to 88 centimeters over the next 100 years. If this prediction proves correct, Okinotorishima will disappear, and Japan will lose an important part of its EEZ.
Therefore, we must not only protect coral from dying off, but also help foster it and develop technology to create new land.
Tuvalu and Maldives are in the same boat as the two low-lying countries consist of coral atolls.

Taken by Daily Yumuiri Online