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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

NPO Churami Shinkokai

Coral reef revitalization project in the Chibishi Area of Kerama Islands, Okinawa

Activity grant

Project Description

These activities are aimed at eliminating crown-of-thorns starfish and muricid gastropods for the prompt regeneration of coral reefs that have decreased due to the whitening of coral reefs and abnormal increase in crown-of-thorns starfish as a result of increases in the water temperature. While up until now the foreign invasion of coral reefs by crown-of-thorns starfish has been responded to with grinding using a hammer underwater, the aim of these activities is to promote the elimination of crown-of-thorns starfish and muricid gastropods and the regeneration of coral by switching to a method in which crown-of-thorns starfish are injected with acid using a syringe in order to avoid the damage that is caused currently.

Fields
Preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2012 Activity Grants
Grant term
3 years
October 2012 - September 2015
Grant amount
4,761,000 yen
Activity region
Keise Island, Tokashiki Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture (Chibishi Area), Japan
Monitoring of coral reefs

Overview of the Organization

Satoshi Matsui, Managing Director
Representative
Satoshi Matsui, Managing Director
Establishment year
2002
Establishment purpose
The purpose of this NPO is to conduct projects for conservation and improvement of marine environments, projects for the safety and establishment of measures in response to marine sports, and activities aimed at deepening social understanding of such activities. As well as these, campaigns for establishing cooperation structures among businesses, business owners, and governments on the main island of Okinawa and outer islands accompanying these projects are also conducted, and campaigns aimed at establishing the social status of diving operations in an aim to contribute the protection of marine environment in Okinawa and the achievement of a society that lives in harmony and coexistence with nature.
Main activity areas
Seas near the main island of Okinawa, Kerama Islands, Chibishi Area
Number of staff members
12 part-time staff members, 30 official members
Annual operating income
4.38 million yen in 2010
WEB site
http://churaumishinkokai.com
Main activities
Underwater cleaning projects, land cleaning activities, underwater ship mooring buoy installation projects, coral planting projects, lectures for members, assistance activities in the event of accidents in the seas near the main island of Okinawa, awareness raising and environmental education projects