=?UTF-8?B?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?=

Current Status and Challenges in Okinawa Dugong Conservation - April 2024 The dugong, found only around Nago City and Kunigami Village on Okinawa Island, was designated as an endangered species on the Ministry of the Environment's Red List in 2007. The dugong population in Okinawa's coastal waters is estimated to be fewer than 50 individuals. Subsequent environmental degradation and coastal development have further reduced their numbers. In 2019, one death was confirmed on Okinawa's west coast. According to DNA analysis by the University of the Ryukyus in April 2024, while traces of their presence were confirmed in areas like Sawada on Irabu Island, the population is estimated to be fewer than 20 individuals. Support from companies and the community is advancing, with Okinawa Electric Power Company promoting a seagrass bed restoration project and All Nippon Airways (ANA) participating in awareness activities. In August 2024, Okinawa Prefecture launched a dedicated website for
dugong sightings and is strengthening conservation efforts in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment. However, further measures are urgently needed, particularly regarding base construction around Henoko and Oura Bay.