Reconstruction efforts have been underway in the Noto Peninsula in central Japan since a deadly earthquake struck the region on New Year's Day. But there's still no timeline for rebuilding a damaged port in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, leaving a traditional fishing culture at risk.

Forty-three-year-old Kadoki Natsuki is an "ama" diver. She's been catching shellfish and seaweed near Wajima Port since she was 15.

The "ama" style of diving was designated a national intangible folk cultural asset in 2018.

But Kadoki and the other local ama haven't been able to go diving since the disaster. The quake lifted the seabed, preventing fishing boats from going out.

Kadoki's home was also damaged in the quake. She and her family have moved to the city of Kanazawa.

On Saturday, she visited the port to see the situation for herself. Many popular seafood products, including wakame seaweed and abalone, will be in season soon and Kadoki wants to be back in the water.

But she was discouraged by what she saw and said it doesn't seem like she will be able to catch any this year. She added that many of the local ama are elderly so they will not be able to wait several years for the port to be restored.

Kadoki called for support to preserve the traditional ama culture.