Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park by the Numbers (1)

Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park along Shikoku's southwestern coast holds some of Japan's highest marine biodiversity numbers. Tatsukushi Bay alone supports 384 sea slug species, more than 30 percent of all known Japanese species. The sea around Okinoshima has 116 coral species, the greatest variety in Shikoku. Kashiwajima hosts approximately 1,000 fish species, the most of any area in Japan. Uwajima has ranked first in national pearl production every year since records began in 1971. The town of Tosashimizu produces 70 to 80 percent of Japan's sodabushi dried tuna fillets. Ainan supplies around 30 percent of Japan's farmed red sea bream.