September 25, 2013
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2013 September 25 - October 1 [US FORCES]
Japan gov’t suppresses discovery of dugong’s presence at planned US base site |
According to the bureau’s unreleased report, a total of 12 reports suggesting that dugong were feeding at seaweed beds were found during April through June last year in the sea area off the Henoko district of Nago City which is a candidate site for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Base. The defense bureau did not make the report public claiming that it was not for publication.
Despite the finding, the Okinawa Defense Bureau in December last year submitted to the Okinawa prefectural government an environment assessment report, concluding that the planned relocation of the military base to the Henoko district will have little effect on dugongs. Three months later, the bureau applied for a reclamation permit from the prefecture.
Sakurai Kunihiro, environmental expert and professor at Okinawa University, said that bite marks prove that the planned reclamation site is a vital feeding area for dugongs. He criticized the defense bureau for having no intention to protect the rare animal, adding that its environment assessment is based on the assumption of relocation.
Sakurai stated, “If the Henoko district, which has one of the best seaweed sites for dugongs, is reclaimed, it will undermine the survival of future generations of dugongs. It means the national government is promoting their extinction.”
Dugong is a sea mammal which eats sea plants. Less than 50 individual dugong are living in the waters of Japan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Environment Ministry of Japan, and Okinawa Prefecture have all designated dugong as an endangered species.
Past related articles:
> Gov’t submits request to reclaim sea area off Henoko [March 23, 2013]
> Defense ministry again abruptly submits EIA over base construction [December 20, 2012]
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