We have developed a superhydrophobic material with excellent durability by combining the tough, supple, spiky skin of the Porcupinefish with the hydrophobic structure found on lotus leaves and diving flies (Ephydra hians). We then used this material in ship bottom paint, intending to reduce the hull's water resistance. Highly durable superhydrophobic materials will enable air-water gaps on various hull shapes, and it is expected that this will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving fuel efficiency through the reduction of fluid resistance.

During the early modern period, Tachi-ryo (strip-shaped nets to keep schools of fish entering a bay from exiting to the open sea) was a popular method for catching migratory fish in Suruga Bay of Shizuoka Prefecture, particularly in Uchiura Bay to the northeast. As long as there were schools of migrating fish, Tachi-ryo made it possible to efficiently capture them in large amounts. At the same time, this method had a past of being at the mercy of fluctuating migratory fish numbers. What impacts did these changes have on how resources were used in these regions which were comprised of forests and cultivated land? Given that changes in migratory fish resources are linked to climate change, I would like to describe the history behind the environments of those regions, with Suruga Bay and Uchiura Bay in early modern times as examples.

The popularization of the SDGs has raised awareness towards the issue of marine litter. However, I feel that this problem doesn’t feel real yet for those who don’t feel close to the ocean, as if it is a distant world event. I think many people are aware of the negative effects of litter, but if they come to learn how resilient juvenile fish can be, taking advantage of this problem to survive, they may realize the ocean’s preciousness and develop a desire to protect it of their own accord. I believe this could open the door to a new kind of ocean literacy education that all individuals can enjoy and be a part of.