Okinawa’s community-led coastal conservation movement
What began with protecting sea turtles has grown into an island-wide effort to safeguard Okinawa’s beaches, reefs, and coastal ecosystems —
-led by local communities, powered by volunteers, and guided by science.
団体の活動が影響を与えています
漂着調査
保護された巣
救出されたカメ
保護された卵
KG of Ghost gear removed
Beaches Cleaned
Kids impacted by seminars
In order to protect endangered sea turtles, we must protect their environment through hand's on action and community engagement
CHURAMURA Okinawa Coastal Protection Alliance is a grassroots community-based volunteer non-profit organization (NPO) based in central Okinawa, that is dedicated to the preservation of Okinawa’s natural coastal areas and protecting Okinawa’s endangered resident and transitory sea turtles.
Our flagship mission is to improve the survivability of sea turtles hatching and traveling through Okinawa waterways and coastlines by raising awareness and support to mitigate factors leading to sea turtle population degradation.
We operate Japan’s only 24-hour rescue hotline, with certified Rangers responding to strandings along the entire 470-kilometer coastline of Okinawa’s main island.
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Our database of over 300 turtles is Japan’s first and largest citizen-science based photo-identifying project, providing valuable insight into habitat use, distribution and population numbers.
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Our trained volunteer patrollers walk over 60km of coastline every morning and help our licensed Ranger technicians to protect sea turtle nests, mothers and hatchlings.
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From microplastics, incubation temperatures, and hatching success ratios to bycatch, ingestion, and biodiversity, our scientists lead a team of researchers to guide our conservation policies.
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Our team of specialized ghost net busters conduct in-water surveys and map then remove discarded fishing gear around the island.
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Coastal mismanagement has allowed erosion, invasive species and encroachment to deplete the quality and safety of our beaches and waterways. Churamura experts work to relieve the burden from council for everyone’s enjoyment.
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Our monthly beach clean-ups remove hazardous debris that poses a threat to sea turtles, coral reefs, and other marine life, also contributing to the tourism economy.
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Effective conservation requires involvment from the community- our treasure and hope for the future. See how we engage, give back, and invest in discussion with fisheries, policy makers and stakeholders.
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The village kids are the future of Okinawa’s conservation efforts, so filling the gaps in national curriculum regarding the environment and being responsible humans is a big part of our mission for operational continuity.
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We host several events throughout the year including the famous Sea Turtle Festival, 5K Funrun, upcycling workshops and many others!
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Since establishment, our dream to build Japan’s 1st Sea Turtle Rescue Center is slowly taking shape.
“Rescue Rehabilitation and Release”
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団体の活動
Over the next five years we aspire to establish Japan’s first sea turtle sanctuary and build Japan’s first sea turtle rescue center and ocean conservation education park that will serve as a hospice and rehabilitation center.
その目標に向けて、私たちは現在、施設の設置が計画されている沖縄本島中部を中心に、島全体でのウミガメの活動を監視し保護しています。
Sea turtles use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate back to the region where they hatched, a behavior known as "geomagnetic imprinting"
If they cannot return to that area to lay due to coastal development, or other human interventions, such as artificial lighting and physical barriers, their nesting success will be significantly impacted.
あなたができること
一部の専門家によると、孵化から成体になるまでに生き残るカメは1万匹に1匹だけだそうです。したがって、彼らの生存をサポートしてあげることは極めて重要なのです
すべての子ガメを大切に
お問い合わせ
Eメール
info@okinawaprotect.org
HOTLINE Emergency Contact
+81 80-5537-9991
住所
〒904-0325 沖縄県中頭郡読谷村瀬名波640-1