Small-scale fisheries are key to the protection of dugong and seagrass throughout their range
September 07, 2017
Small-scale fisheries, like those operated from the communities in which the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project operates, are key to the protection of dugong and seagrass throughout their range.
By-catch and direct targeting of dugongs are among the greatest threats to the species. These same threats are also important to the conservation of sharks, sea turtles and other large marine species.
Our affiliates at Community Centred Conservation (C3), who manage one of our projects in Madagascar, called our attention to a recent paper published in Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. In the paper our affiliates discuss these threats in greater detail, point to the importance of accurate data collection, as well as cooperation among stakeholders in policy development and enforcement.
The Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project is a practical application of the issues and recommendations cited in this scientific journal article. Through research, policy, community outreach and education, the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation project works to preserve seagrass ecosystems and the large marine species, like dugong, that live there.
Read and download the article here: Marine megafauna interactions with small-scale fisheries in the southwestern Indian Ocean: a review of status and challenges for research and management