Overcoming the Hardship of Massive Coral Bleaching: Presenting Messages to the Production Area

Pal System Consumers' Co-operative Union (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President: Haruyuki Shibusawa) held the 'Onna Village, Mozuku, and Coral Support Message Presentation Ceremony' at the Onna Village Office in Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday, March 25, praying for the regeneration of corals hit by a massive bleaching event. Passionate messages of support for the production area, collected from Pal System users and staff across 1 metropolis and 12 prefectures, were handed directly to the Mayor of Onna Village and the head of the Onna Village Fishery Cooperative.

## Creating 'Sato-umi' by eating Mozuku

Four parties—Pal System, Onna Village (Mayor Yoshimi Nagahama), Onna Village Fishery Cooperative (Head Haruki Kinjo), and Igeta Takeuchi Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sakaiminato City, Tottori Prefecture, President: Ryuichiro Takeuchi)—established the 'Onna Village Churaumi Direct Sales Council' in 2009. For 17 years, they have been promoting 'Sato-umi' initiatives to 'grow corals by eating Mozuku'.

Amidst these efforts, a massive coral bleaching event occurred in 2024. The cultivated corals suffered severe damage, forcing a temporary halt to coral seedling production activities. In response to this difficult situation, Pal System launched the 'Onna Village Coral Forest Restoration Action'. When users were called upon to show their support through study sessions explaining the current state of the production area and product exhibitions, numerous messages poured in.

## Mayor Nagahama: 'Encouraged by warm voices'

At the ceremony, support flags filled with the thoughts of users and staff were presented by Pal System Union's Managing Executive Officer Hideo Notsu to Mayor Nagahama and Cooperative Head Kinjo, and from Igeta Takeuchi's Managing Director Takeuchi to Division Head Mekaru. Looking back on the journey of planting 17,300 coral seedlings together, Executive Officer Notsu pledged continued support, stating, 'The bleaching was a deeply saddening event, but our bonds will not be broken. The 'Support Flags' carry the heartfelt wishes of our users.'

In response, Mayor Yoshimi Nagahama expressed his gratitude: 'Receiving warm words like 'Don't give up' from the users was truly encouraging. Your support gives strength to the sea people. We will continue to protect this rich ocean as the 'Coral Village'.'

Munekazu Mekaru, Head of the Coral Aquaculture Research Division of the Onna Village Fishery Cooperative, who continues to face the corals on-site, touched upon the severity of the bleaching but expressed his determination for regeneration: 'I found new, small organisms living under the dead corals, teaching me that the role of corals continues in different forms. We will turn your messages into strength and take it one step at a time, aiming for the day we can grow seedlings again.'

## Record-high harvest overcoming adversity

To conclude the ceremony, Hideki Nakamura, Councilor of the Onna Village Fishery Cooperative, announced that the Onna Mozuku harvest broke the 2010 record, reaching an all-time high of 252 tons.