The Ogasawara Marine Center was established in April 1982 by the Tokyo Metropolitan Association for Marine Environmental Conservation (TMKCA) in order to protect the marine life of the Ogasawara Islands, including the green sea turtle. Since then, the Marine Center has made efforts to research and elucidate the ecology of marine organisms, particularly green turtles and humpback whales, and has received international recognition for its findings. With the dissolution of the Tokyo Metropolitan Association for Marine Environmental Conservation in March 2001, the Marine Center’s property such as facilities and materials were transferred to Ogasawara Village. However, the center’s facilities management and operations was turned over to the Japan Sea Turtle Association from April 2001 to March 2006. In 2002, the exterior wall of the center, which had been exposed to the sea breeze for 20 years, was repaired and the exhibition hall was further enhanced. From April 2006 to present, the certified NPO organization Everlasting Nature has continued managing the operations of the Ogasawara Marine Center.
With the understanding and support of the island’s local organizations and citizens, the Ogasawara Marine Center has been nicknamed the “Turtle Center”. It’s now widely used by people both inside and outside the island as a place for information exchange, education and community interaction.