Marine Wildlife

Marine Wildlife: Dugong Seagrass Welfare

Dugongs are entirely dependent on seagrass meadows for food, making seagrass conservation synonymous with dugong welfare.

Key Facts

Dugongs are the only herbivorous marine mammals, feeding almost exclusively on seagrass
A large dugong may consume 30-40 kg of seagrass daily, uprooting entire plants
Seagrass meadows are declining globally due to runoff, dredging, and climate change
Dugong populations have declined dramatically across their Indo-Pacific range
Indonesia and Australia hold the largest remaining dugong populations

Welfare Considerations

Dugong welfare is entirely dependent on seagrass meadow health - when seagrass declines, dugongs face starvation, forced movement to find food, and population decline. Boat strikes are a significant mortality cause for dugongs already weakened by food scarcity. Seagrass conservation through improved water quality, restricted dredging, and climate action is the primary welfare intervention for this vulnerable species.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for seagrass conservation and water quality improvement
Reduce fertiliser and chemical run-off from gardens near coastal areas
Choose seafood from fisheries with low trawling impact on seagrass beds
Donate to dugong conservation programmes in Australia and Southeast Asia
Learn about dugong ecology and the critical importance of seagrass meadows