2014/08/30
Stop Depriving The Okinawa Dugong Of Their Feeding Grounds!
Do Not Take Away Precious Coastal Waters From The Okinawa People!
The Association To Protect The Northernmost Dugong
Masako Suzuki
http://sea-dugong.org/
info@sea-dugong.org(This is an updated version of the original appeal, in Japanese, dated 2014/8/6.)
Team Zan, a group closely associated with ours, which studies the Okinawa dugong’s
behavior, requested on June 12, 2014, that the Okinawa Defense Bureau and theDepartment of Defense immediately stop operations related to construction of the new
US military base in Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa, which are ruining the Okinawa
dugong’s feeding areas.
Team Zan conducted a series of field studies in Oura Bay and the waters off Henoko
in May and June, 2014 and found, in total, more than 110 traces of dugong feeding near
the US Marine Base, Camp Schwab. ‘The Aquatic Fauna Study Report (in Japanese)’
prepared by the Okinawa Defense Bureau also verifies that dugongs have been present
in these water areas through 2012 and 2013. It is evident that the marine areas to be
used for the new military base in Henoko are important parts of the habitat for thecritically endangered Okinawa dugong.
The Environmental Impact Assessment for the new base construction, prepared by
the Okinawa Defense Bureau, says that the dugongs stay mostly off the Kayo coast,
distant from the construction site, and, as long as the dugongs remain away from thesite, the construction would not cause a significant impact upon their lifestyle. However,the EIA’s claim falls apart in face of the fact that the dugongs frequent the very areas
designated for landfill for the base construction.
As a Natural Monument of Japan, the Okinawa dugong is entitled to a specialprotection. The ongoing disturbance of the dugong’s habitat caused by the boring survey,
the search for and disposal of unexploded ordnance in preparation for the landfill, andthe base construction itself, will each seriously damage the seagrass colonies where thedugongs feed. The sea areas where many of the feeding traces have been found are partof the areas to be landfilled and some are located directly under the floating pier built
by the Okinawa Defense Bureau and now frequented by the rubber dinghies used by theCoast Guard to forcibly remove canoe-borne protesters.

On August 17, 2014, a long line of buoys was laid to mark the newly establishedlimited access area surrounding the construction site. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saysthat this area is set aside for Camp Schwab use and that any trespasser shall bearrested. Amid protest, the boring survey has been carried out since August 18 inside
the limited access area; 16 spots in the sea-bottom and 5 spots on land are to beexcavated; the search for unexploded ordnance is to be carried out by ships and divers.
Prime Minister Abe hopes to complete the survey by the end of the coming October sothat the Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, who gave his permission for the landfill,
betraying his promise never to allow a new base in the prefecture, will be in a better
position in the coming campaign in November for the prefecture Governor. The
Okinawa Defense Bureau, the Prefecture Police Force and security guards aremenacing the citizens who have gathered to protest in front of Camp Schwab.
Corrugated iron plates with dangerous protuberances have been laid at the entrance tothe Camp to intimidate the protesters. Non-violent protest, however, continues; 3,600people gathered on August 23 demanding the immediate discontinuation of the survey.
Nago City Mayor, Susumu Inamine, stands firm opposing the base construction andrefuses to cooperate with the Okinawa Defense Bureau. On August 22, Naha City
Council resolved to demand an immediate end to the base construction and relatedactivities. The Ryukyu Shimpo, a leading newspaper in Okinawa, reported on August 26,
that polls indicate that 81.5% of the people are opposed to the boring survey.
The planned landfill and fragmentation of reefs in the water off Henoko will bedevastating to local fishing activities and other industries; Nago City and theneighboring Ginoza-son Fishermen’s Cooperative oppose the plan. And yet, theOkinawa prefecture decided, on August 28, to permit the fragmentation of reefs.
Forcing through the base construction and related operations is a slight to the local
authority and violates the rights to fish. Closing off the sea-areas disregards the law
assuring public use of such areas.
Dugong is, as a species, endangered world-wide. The Okinawa dugong is an isolated
population located at the northernmost region of its range. Climate change andcontinued development have devastated many parts of the Okinawa coast. However, thewaters off Henoko and neighboring Oura Bay are still rich in wildlife; healthy seagrasscolonies and beautiful coral reefs support marine ecosystem, precious sea-turtles anddugongs. These water areas are precious not only for the Okinawan people but also forthe people of the world. The operations which endanger the surviving dugongs, a symbolof a healthy marine ecosystem, must be immediately stopped. Do not take away waterareas precious for the people and future generations !