Shiraho Blue Coral; One of the largest colony in the world

WWF Coral Reef Conservation and Research Centre (WWF Coral Reef Centre) is located in the Shiraho Village on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, where WWF Japan has been actively working for the conservation of the Shiraho coral lagoon lying in front of the village. This facility was built in April 2000, with the grateful donations and contributions from people all over Japan, wishing to protect this valuable coral lagoon. Since then, with the Shiraho villagers, the WWF Coral Reef Centre is promoting conservation and sustainable use of the lagoon and its marine resources.

The lagoon is extremely rich in fauna and flora, being identified more than 120 kinds of corals (including gigantic micro atolls of porites species), 300 of fishes, and a variety of seaweeds and grasses. People in the ShirahoVillage have been using those resources for generations and appreciating the lagoon’s abundance as “Treasure Sea ” or “Sea of Survival”. The richness of the lagoon has been providing indispensable subsistence for the village over the hard time after the World War II.

The value of the lagoon was also recognized by IUCN (The World Conservation Union) through its survey in 1987; colonies of blue coral in the lagoon were identified as the largest and oldest in the northern hemisphere. At the same time, however, it recognized the degradation of its environment and the necessity of its conservation.

In order to hand over such an important coral lagoon to the future generations, it is important to establish the framework for sustainable resource management and to harmonize the use of coral lagoon and its conservation. It will primarily be achieved through positive participation and contribution of the Shiraho villagers to the framework, as well as understanding and support of people living outside. With this respect, the WWF Coral Reef Centre has been encouraging the villagers to take part in its various activities of researches, awareness raising, and coral reef conservation. We believe that their active involvement will promote dialogues and mutual understanding among different stakeholders and help them to realize the importance of sustainable regional development along the Shiraho lagoon.