Filling critical knowledge gaps on dugongs and seagrass for effective conservation
Currently, there is insufficient knowledge of dugong populations across their range. This is an obstacle to making accurate global population assessments, particularly in developing nations. The regional conservation status of dugongs has been assessed differently in different regions, ranging from Data Deficient in Africa to Critically Endangered in Southeast Asia.
Assessing the status of dugongs is problematic, because of the difficulty in monitoring animals, which often remain underwater for long periods in turbid water in remote areas.
More than half of our projects will collect and analyse data, as well as increase the accessibility of that information to policy and decision-makers. Fishers will be surveyed about incidental catch of dugong. Aerial and acoustic surveys will be conducted to acquire data on dugong population numbers, status and distribution. This research will contribute to updated assessments of dugong and their conservation status at national and regional levels.
Seagrass data will also be extensively collected in the Project countries, using satellite images and field research to assess the health, distribution and abundance of the seagrass ecosystem. The Project will also deliver economic assessment of key ecosystem services by seagrass in two of the Project countries, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Data on dugongs and their seagrass habitats will be used for the introduction of special management regimes or the establishment/expansion of Marine Protected Areas in dugong and seagrass key areas.
Research and monitoring within the Project are supported by the Dugong Technical Advisors – a group established by one of our key partners, the CMS Dugong MoU Secretariat. The Technical Advisors are specialists with different skills for the conservation and management of dugongs and their seagrass habitats, including conservation of dugong and alleviation of poverty in developing countries.
Research Projects
Total Funding $742,671
Increasing seagrass ecosystem knowledge to enhance dugong conservation (LK5).
LK5 seeks to influence decision-making and coastal area planning in Sri Lanka by delivering increased knowledge of the distribution and abundance of seagrasses in Palk Bay, the Gulf of Mannar...
Increasing knowledge on dugong distribution at selected sites in north-western Sri Lanka (LK6).
LK6 aims to eradicate knowledge gaps that prevent effective management, conservation and policy initiatives concerning dugongs in the Bay of Bengal/Palk Bay area of Sri Lanka. This will be achieved...
Generating knowledge on dugongs, their critical habitats and threat reduction measures in North-west Madagascar (MG6).
The aim of the project is to improve the conservation status of dugongs and seagrasses by reducing knowledge barriers to their protection and trialling community-led conservation initiatives in northwest Madagascar....
A multi-pronged approach to overcoming knowledge barriers on the ecology and status of dugongs in Johor: Towards critical habitat protection (MY4).
This project aims to overcome knowledge barriers that hinder the understanding of dugong and seagrass conservation needs in Johor, Malaysia, in order to enable the comprehensive development of tangible and...
The distribution of dugongs in the coastal waters of Mozambique (MZ2).
This project seeks to determine the presence and/or absence of dugongs and their relative numbers in areas surrounding the Bazaruto Archipelago, and to assess the extent and diversity of seagrass...
Participatory research of additional methods to reduce the impact of the beach seine fisheries on seagrass beds at Vilanculos and Inhassoro (MZ5).
This project aims to identify current gaps in the management of the beach seine fishery that lead to over-exploitation of the resource and seagrass habitats, and to identify through participatory...
Mapping critical seagrass fisheries habitats in Lau Lagoon, Solomon Islands (SB3).
SB3 aims to overcome existing knowledge barriers concerning the distribution, status and ecology of seagrass ecosystems in Lau Lagoon, Malaita Province, Solomon Islands. The project will address the problem of...
Conserving Dugongs and Seagrass Habitats in Northwest Vonavona Lagoon (SB6)
SB6 will work with local communities in Vonavona Lagoon in the Western Province of Solomon Islands to build awareness of local threats to dugongs and seagrass ecosystems, with a view...
Identification of priority sites for conservation of dugongs and seagrasses in Timor-Leste (TL1).
This project aims to identify priority sites for dugong and seagrass conservation efforts in Timor-Leste. Considered sacred animals in this area, dugongs are not actively hunted; however the species and...
Research Case Studies
Research-driven community resource management in the Solomon Islands
Delivering knowledge and information to those who rely on the dugong’s coastal ecosystem for their livelihood is an important means of facilitating marine conservation. The importance of healthy seagrass meadows...
Research Interviews
Real people, Real research: Searching for dugong & surveying seagrass in Sulawesi
Angélique Bonnet Intern at Alterra, Wageningen Environmental Research, the Netherlands Agronomy and environmental sciences engineer degree at the ENSAT, France This research assessed the spatial distribution, species composition and status...
Discussing dugong
Christophe Cleguer, PhD Dugong & Seagrass Conservation Project Technical Advisor Research Fellow, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University (Australia) Adjunct Research Fellow, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement...
Dugong Database Initiative Indonesia
Prof. Hans de Iongh Associate Professor, Institute of Environmental Science Leiden University, Netherlands Please can you tell us a little bit about your working history in Indonesia? I went to...
A Life-long Dedication to Dugong Research
Helene Marsh Dean of Graduate Research & Professor of Environmental Science, James Cook University, Australia Helene is one of the world's leading authorities on Dugong. She has been studying their...
Seagrass Specialist Group Chair, Fred Short, on Seagreass
Fred Short is an oceanographer and a Research Professor at the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, University of New Hampshire. He has advocated for and studied eelgrass across New England for over...