The ecosystems of the coral reefs are very important for tourism and fishery resources in Okinawa, and the preservation of them is a matter of considerable urgency to our generation. One of our purposes at the Okinawa Churashima Foundation is to preserve the ecosystems of these coral reefs. In 1988, we started to survey corals in the areas near Motobu Town, and since 1998 we have conducted monitoring surveys. Currently our purpose of this study is preserving the ecosystem of coral reefs, whilst conducting surveys on seaweeds and marine plants. Also with cooperation of the aquarium we are establishing nurturing techniques for reef-building corals and conduct research into their growth, reproduction and the types of diseases affecting reef-building corals.

• See here regarding our monitoring research of coral reef.

In order to understand the nature of cetaceans in the Southwest Islands we have begun collecting specimens and surveying the whales that were accidentally caught or stranded.
Studies are conducted into their reproductive ecology along with individual identification surveys and migration surveys so that we can better understand the population status of whales, in particular the humpback whales that migrate to the waters around Okinawa and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins that are found near Amami-Oshima Islands.

• Surveys of the humpback whale

Early efforts into the long-term nurturing of the large Elasmobranchs like whale sharks and mantas are taking place at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and the achievements are highly acclaimed both domestically and overseas. We had the world’s first successful captive reproduction of a manta ray in 2006. We are continuing to aim for successful captive reproduction of whale sharks. The research institute is conducting endocrinological studies, dissections, and histological studies to gain reproductive and physiological knowledge from captive breeding at the aquarium.