Coral reefs, along with tropical rainforests, house much of our planet’s biodiversity. About 30% of marine species spend some part of their lives around coral reefs. In 2011, we were the first in the world to decode the genomes of corals. A genome is the complete set of genetic information in an organism and is essential to understanding the living organism. In 2013, we did the same for zooxanthellae, which photosynthesize and live in symbiosis with corals.

The OIST Coral Project aims to conserve and restore healthy coral reefs by using genome information. We use this information in planting and nurturing corals.

There are already several organizations in the world, including some in Okinawa, that are cultivating and planting coral, but this project is the first of its kind to use scientific knowledge of genome information for the sustainable conservation of coral reefs.

We have also recently developed a method to identify coral species by detecting environmental DNA, or eDNA, in seawater. These new methods help us better understand which coral species inhabit different locations, and which reefs are healthy. We will also investigate the contribution of newly planted corals to biodiversity through genomic science.

To achieve our goal of conserving and restoring healthy coral reefs by using genome information, we are soliciting donations from individuals and companies who support this project. Our efforts to conserve coral reefs and protect biodiversity will have an impact on the health of our oceans and society. Thank you for your warm support.

Inquiries and Requests for Donations

The oceans of Okinawa are home to approximately 400 species of reef-building corals. These "sea forests," nurture rich biodiversity and provide many blessings to humans. As natural breakwaters, they protect us from disasters.

However, many coral species are in danger of extinction due to the effects of human activities and climate change. This is a major global challenge, and it is worsening on an unprecedented scale and at an unprecedented rate. If we don’t take any action, the number of fish living on coral reefs will drastically decrease and our beautiful white beaches will disappear. The zooxanthellae, which live in symbiosis with corals and use CO₂ for photosynthesis, will also decrease.

There are various factors and scales of occurrence, but human activities have a significant impact on all of them. We want to know more about coral and protect the ocean’s beautiful coral reefs. This is how the OIST Coral Project began.

Professor Noriyuki Satoh

Professor, Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

Biography
After retiring from Kyoto University as a professor, he established the Marine Genomics Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation, the predecessor of OIST, in 2008.
He has held his current position since 2011.

Awards
2018 The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
2010 Edwin Grant Conklin Medal by the American Society for Developmental Biology
2006 Medal with Purple Ribbon
2005 Alexander Kowalewski Medal
2004 Toray Science and Technology Prize
2004 Prize of Evolutionary Society of Japan
1994 Inoue Prize for Science
1993 Prize of Zoological Society of Japan

Marine Genomics Unit