Groom, 2003:

"...investigated the efficacy of specific voluntary conservation measures, transit lanes and ‘Go Slow’ zones for dugongs in the Hinchinbrook Dugong Protection Area. This area has been established as the most densely populated and significant dugong habitat on Queensland’s urban coast. During the study, the author found these conservation measures to be ineffective. Significant sections of the Voluntary Vessel Transit Lanes (VVTLs) were found to intersect areas that were densely distributed by dugongs and there is low level of compliance, both spatially with the VVTLs and in relation to speed in the ‘Go-Slow' zones over seagrass beds, by those vessels that pose the greatest risk. Complementing earlier studies of both dugong and seagrass distribution, the study found that both have been generally stable, and predictable over relatively long periods of time. Therefore, it may be possible to implement other measures to complement or replace the existing VVTL/Go-Slow zones to improve dugong conservation for this area.

Considering the situation within Missionary Bay and taking into consideration the evaluated measures to reduce boat strike in Florida, Groom makes some recommendations to be considered in future attempts to address this problem:
1. Firstly, it is clear that voluntary measures have failed. Whatever measures are introduced in future require some kind of compulsion to comply, such as fines for infringements.
2. Monitoring of boat traffic rates and paths within Missionary Bay should be continued to assess potential increases.
3. A more active and broad-scale education and awareness program should be instituted that is focussed on boat owners and addresses:
4. The significance of this region to dugongs and the threats that boats may pose, and
5. The importance of travelling cautiously and slowly throughout this region for habitat, species and vessel protection.
6. Sensitive regions that have been identified within the bay, such as coastal areas at high tide, should require boats to travel at non-planing speed. In all other regions strongly suggest speed limits of <17 kn.
7. Key dugong areas within Missionary Bay should be clearly identified on the water by marker buoys or some other appropriate means.
8. Increase signage at all boat ramps in the local region of the sensitive areas and send out information with boating registration forms."

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Citation and/or URL

Groom, R.A. 2003, The efficacy of the voluntary vessel transit lanes in Missionary Bay, Hinchinbrook Island for dugong conservation management.  Unpublished honours thesis, James Cook University. 59pp.   

Spatial Coverage

Hinchinbrook area

Temporal Coverage

June, July, August 2003

Update Frequency

Not applicable 

Other Information

Preen, T. (2001).  Dugongs, boats, dolphins and turtles in the Townsville-Cardwell region and recommendations for a boat traffic management plan for the Hinchinbrook Dugong Protection area. Co-operative Research Centre for the Ecologically Sustainable Development fo the Great Barrier Reef and Department of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography, James Cook University.  GBRMPA research publication No. 67.

White, A. (2005). Understanding Boaters' non-compliance with speed guidelines introduced for dugong conservation.  Unpublished honours thesis, James Cook University, 97pp.