Dugong Seagrass Habitat and Conservation Welfare

Dugongs are large, slow-moving marine mammals entirely dependent on seagrass meadows for food, making them acutely vulnerable to the global decline of seagrass ecosystems from pollution, coastal development, and climate change.

Key Facts

Dugongs are the only fully herbivorous marine mammals, consuming up to 40 kg of seagrass daily
They are found across 37 countries in the Indo-Pacific, with major populations in Australia and the Gulf
Seagrass meadows have declined by an estimated 29% globally since the 1880s
Dugong populations have declined dramatically in the Arabian Gulf, East Africa, and much of Southeast Asia
Boat strike injuries are a leading cause of dugong mortality where watercraft and dugongs share shallow coastal waters
The species is listed as Vulnerable globally but Endangered or Critically Endangered across much of its range

Welfare Considerations

Dugongs face welfare harms from multiple human activities in their coastal seagrass habitats. Boat strike injuries cause severe trauma including propeller lacerations that are often fatal or result in permanent disability. Entanglement in fishing gear causes drowning. Seagrass loss from trawling, pollution, and sedimentation removes the food source that dugongs depend on, forcing them to travel further to find adequate nutrition. Cyclones that destroy seagrass beds trigger starvation events affecting large numbers of individuals. Dugongs are slow to reproduce, with females producing just one calf every 3-7 years, making population recovery from welfare-impacting losses extremely slow.

What You Can Do

Support seagrass restoration projects in dugong habitat across the Indo-Pacific
Advocate for boat speed restrictions in shallow coastal areas where dugongs are present
Donate to WCS and WWF programs monitoring dugong populations and reducing bycatch mortality
Back coastal development policies protecting seagrass meadows from runoff and physical destruction
Choose seafood certified as avoiding dugong-impacting fishing methods in their coastal range