One of the world's largest colonies of blue coral is to be found in the Shiraho coral lagoon. Life in the ocean-side village of Shiraho facing the lagoon has, throughout a long and continuous history, developed a "reef culture, Ewhich it is passing on to the next generation. Along with the times however, life on the island is changing, resulting in a dramatic loss of biological diversity on the reef. Against this background, Shiraho village has undertaken conservation and revitalization of the coral reef areas it has long prized as "life-giving seas Eand "treasure seas,  Eas part of a sustainable program to promote the region.

As marine ecosystems depend on biodiversity for both their structure and functionality, the decline in biodiversity intend to a falling away of the components necessary for the biological interaction network Aiming towards conservation of marine ecosystems and sustainable fisheries, this paper uses the examples of global warming effect on Pacific salmon and "food mileage Eto focus on carrying capacity in the marine ecosystem, the need for a paradigm shift in education, and the importance of risk management.

The town of Taiji in Wakayama Prefecture where I live has for many years been subjected to groundless persecution, slanderous abuse and attacks tantamount to human rights discrimination by opponents of whaling and environmentalists.The Japanese have eaten whale meat for at least a thousand years. Each country has its own diversity of diet, and it is important that we acknowledge and respect each other's traditions. It should not be permitted for one nation or group of nations to unilaterally impose its own values on another, or to engage in propaganda campaigns that border on self-seeking malice and infringement of human rights.
Selected Papers No.14(p.8)