Ocean acidification is one of the problems of global warming. In order to investigate the state of ocean acidification in Japan’s coastal areas and its impacts on coastal organisms, the Ocean Acidification Adaptation Project was launched in 2020 on a grant from The Nippon Foundation. The two-year study has already begun to provide insight into the causes and effects of acidification, and it’s becoming clear that technology used for improving coastal water quality is useful for limiting acidification. We are anticipating effective measures for adapting to acidification in Japan’s coastal regions.

The handover ceremony for Kobe University's new training ship, the Kaijin Maru, was held on March 23, 2022. The ship has now embarked on its vital mission of fostering maritime human resources. The Kaijin Maru is a next-generation, high-performance training ship, equipped with various functions. This article describes its features and functions.

The recent economic boom has led to increased harvesting of precious corals, creating concern that stocks of this slow-growing species may become depleted. Along with regulating harvested amounts, efforts are being made to artificially propagate precious corals (aquaculture) by embedding live branch tips in a concrete disk substrate for their release and cultivation. Due to the ecological characteristics of these corals, their sustainable utilization requires a long-term commitment spanning decades.