Protests halt gov't survey work for U.S. base off Nago

Local residents said they are concerned drilling could damage the habitat for dugong, a sea mammal designated a protected species by the Japanese government, as well as coral in the region.
In 2002, the Japanese government and the Okinawa prefectural government agreed to build a military-civilian airport by reclaiming land off Henoko. The agency had planned to begin the drilling survey on April 19 last year.

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