Dugongs are vulnerable marine mammals completely dependent on seagrass meadows that are declining globally from coastal development, pollution, and trawling.
Dugongs are acutely vulnerable because of their complete dependence on seagrass meadows that are declining globally at approximately 7% annually. Food shortages from seagrass loss cause starvation and nutritional stress. Boat strike injuries are common, with propeller wounds visible on many adult dugongs in tourist areas. Entanglement in gillnets and shark nets causes drowning. Dugongs have very slow population recovery making each individual loss significant. Indigenous subsistence harvest under traditional rights management is sustainable at low levels but is distinguished from commercial harvest. The Okinawa population is effectively functionally extinct with too few individuals for viable reproduction. Climate change causing seagrass dieback through warming and storm damage is an accelerating threat.