Red Tide Disaster and Defenders of Marine Life - Records of the Past and Present

Red Tide Disaster and Defenders of Marine Life - Records of the Past and Present

Red tides cause serious damage to fisheries and ecosystems in coastal areas of Japan. The cause is the abnormal proliferation of plankton, which consumes underwater oxygen and causes mass mortality of fish and shellfish. Since 2011, water quality monitoring using satellites and sensors has been introduced to promote the conservation of seaweed beds and tidal flats. In 2023, a large-scale red tide occurred in Hokkaido and the Seto Inland Sea, causing extensive damage to aquaculture companies. The Fisheries Agency and companies have collaborated to develop red tide monitoring and prevention technologies, and measures are underway to mitigate the damage, including the development of control technology using active clay. On the other hand, the instability of red tide outbreaks due to climate change and changes in the marine environment remains an issue, and further efforts are required.