The fisheries division of the Okinawa Prefectural Government on July 13 accepted an application from the Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) for the governor’s special approval to transplant nine coral colonies of endangered “Porites okinawensis Veron” in a planned landfill area to another place. The move is in connection with building a new base in the Henoko district of Nago for the planned relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The prefectural government’s decision will allow the ODB to transplant the coral within 14 days after installing baskets for preventing pest damage to the coral. But the prefectural government says the ODB needs the prefectural government’s agreement to install the baskets. Transplanting the coral will advance the reclamation work. However, some criticize it, claiming that the prefectural government’s decision “runs counter” to the incumbent governor’s intention of retracting his predecessor’s approval of the Henoko landfill work. (Abridged)