The probable reason that nobody at Mikimoto wanted a…
““The probable reason that nobody at Mikimoto wanted a writer to go to the pearl farms of Ago…was because something terrible was happening in that bay. Since the 1990s, pollution has been pouring into the water, partly as a result of careless husbandry but also from untreated sewage from all the hotels that bring people in to enjoy the ‘unspoiled wilderness’. No wonder the Japanese farmers were pulling out their oysters after just nine months: any longer than that and they risked losing most of their stock to the effluent in the water—it was killing the akoya oysters… Similar things are happening in Lake Biwa… Thanks to the pollution in the area, production at Lake Biwa has now declined almost to the point of nonexistence.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Pollution from tourism and poor waste management devastated pearl farms, threatening local economies and ecosystems.
In simple terms: Pollution harms marine life and livelihoods.
Protect marine environments from waste.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- coastal communities
- tourism management
- environmental regulation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can tourism be made sustainable?
- What responsibility do tourists have?
Economic pressures may resist stricter regulations.