Home of the Sea Turtles - Nagata Beach
Nagata Beach and Sea Turtles
The three beaches - Inaka Beach, Maehama Beach, and Yotsuse Beach, located in Nagata Village are collectively referred to as Nagata Beach, the largest sandy beach on Yakushima Island. From late April through early August each year, a vast number of sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Between early July and late September, the eggs of those turtles hatch and the baby turtles return to the sea. Approximately 30 - 40% of all loggerhead sea turtles that come ashore in Japan do so on Nagata Beach, making it the largest loggerhead sea turtle hatchery in the Northern Pacific. It is therefore a critical area for protecting sea turtles. In 2002 it was designated as part of the Kirishimayaku National Park, and in 2005 it was desigated as a Ramsar Convention wetland*. The Yakushima Ranger Office is proceeding with discussions with local stakeholders with the aim of protecting sea turtles on Nagata Beach, preserving their spawning and hatching environments, and ensuring their proper use.
* The Ramsar Convention: An international convention to promote the protection of internationally important wetlands and the animals and plants that inhabit them.
The Relationship Between Sea Turtles and the People of Nagata Village
In the past, sea turtle eggs were used as a miracle drug for long life and in cooking as an important source of protein, such as nutrition for pregnant women. However, humans have come to coexist well with sea turtles while protecting them, as evidenced by the approach of 'leave the egg to become the turtle'.
Developments in the Protection of Sea Turtles
| Year | Major event |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Old Kamiyaku Town enacts Kamiyaku Town Nature Protection Ordinance. |
| 1982 | Town outsources monitoring of Isso Beach and Nagata Beach. |
| 1988 | Kagoshima Prefecture enacts Sea Turtle Protection Ordinance. |
| 2002 | Nagata Beach designated as part of Kirishimayaku National Park. |
| 2005 | Nagata Beach registered as a Ramsar Convention wetland. |
| 2006 | Sea turtles become a designated animal in accordance with the Natural Parks Act. |
| 2009 | Nagata Beach Sea Turtle Observation Rules established. |
| 2019 | Ecotourism Promotion Council establishes Sea Turtle Conservation Committee. |
Efforts at Nagata Beach
Observation groups ensure proper use of Nagata Beach, and survey research helps understand behavior and ecology of sea turtles.
People visiting Nagata Beach between May 1 and September 30 are asked to read the following.
