The death toll from the New Year's Day earthquake on the Noto Peninsula in central Japan has risen to 232. As survivors try to return to normal, some are finding it may be harder than they expected.

Fishermen in Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture are finally seeing the scope of the damage. The quake caused 200 meters of coastline to lift.

Dead marine life litters this area, which was originally part of the seabed. But without access to the ocean, fishermen at Kuroshima Port say their livelihoods may be gone for good.

Fisherman Takashima Naganori said, "There's so much damage I don't think anything can be done about it. I don't see how we can keep fishing." He is concerned about how his community will survive.

Takashima is not the only one. There are about 70 fishing ports in Ishikawa Prefecture. On Monday, officials said more than 80 percent were damaged in the disaster.

Local students are also wondering about their futures. Hundreds of junior high school students in Wajima City left en masse Wednesday. All three of the city's junior high schools are being used as emergency shelters.

Four hundred students were given the option to continue their studies in the southern part of the prefecture. Two-hundred-and-fifty of them chose to go.

Junior high school student Miyawaki Mizuki said, "I'm a little worried. But I think the facility there is well-equipped so I'm looking forward to it."

Mizuki's father said, "I can only tell him to do his best. There are many things that we can't provide here right now. I hope he'll grow up a bit and come back."

The students are expected to be there for about two months. Teachers from Wajima City schools will be responsible for the students at the new site.