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A new global assessment presented at a conservation congress in Abu Dhabi warns that the long‑term survival of dugongs in India’s Gulf of Kutch and Andaman & Nicobar Islands is uncertain. The isolated and tiny dugong population in the Gulf is confined to a few seagrass meadows. Habitat degradation, fishing and climate change threaten these shy marine mammals, prompting calls for integrated conservation efforts.
Background
Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are marine herbivores closely related to manatees. They graze on seagrass beds in shallow coastal waters across the Indo‑Pacific. India’s western coastline once supported healthy herds, but habitat loss and hunting decimated numbers. Today, small and scattered groups survive in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch and around the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Isolated population: The Gulf of Kutch, a shallow inlet along Gujarat’s coast, supports an isolated dugong population. Its seagrass meadows are fragmented and restricted to inter‑tidal flats. Limited habitat and low genetic diversity make the population vulnerable to extinction.
- Important Marine Mammal Area: Conservationists recognise the southern Gulf of Kutch and parts of the Andaman Sea as Important Marine Mammal Areas because of their seagrass beds and dugong presence. Protecting these areas can benefit multiple marine species.
- Threats: Dredging, port expansion, coastal development and trawling damage seagrass. Dugongs also get entangled in fishing nets or are injured by boat propellers. Climate‑driven storms and warmer seas further stress the ecosystem.
Conservation outlook
The report recommends linking dugong conservation with broader marine protected‑area planning rather than focusing on a single species. Proposed measures include:
- Restoring and expanding seagrass meadows by reducing dredging and controlling coastal pollution.
- Engaging fisher communities in monitoring, reducing net entanglement and reporting strandings.
- Conducting genetic and population studies to assess viability and identify connectivity between sub‑populations.
- Integrating dugong protection into India’s ocean policy and securing funding for long‑term seagrass management.
Without such interventions, India risks losing one of its last remaining dugong strongholds. Protecting seagrass will also benefit other marine life, support carbon sequestration and sustain livelihoods.
Source: DTE