Search

The article reports that the Japanese Ministry of the Environment has classified the Okinawa dugong as Critically Endangered on the Japanese Red List. The Okinawa dugongs are the most northern population of dugongs. In common with other dugong populations, the Okinawa dugongs are at risk of entanglement in fishing gear, habitat loss and siltation of their feeding areas. Another challenge threatening the Okinawa dugongs it the plan of the U.S. military to build airbase runways in one of the richest areas of sea grass in Okinawa.