Marsh., 2000:

"A temporal series of aerial surveys (Marsh et al. 1996) indicated that the numbers of dugongs, Dugong dugon, have declined significantly along parts of the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, since the mid 1980s. This decline has occurred over more than one thousand kilometres of coastline in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, from Innisfail to the southern border of the area near Bundaberg  (Fig. 1). Anecdotal evidence suggests that this decline has been going on for decades (Marsh et al. 1996). The reasons for this decrease are complex and include habitat degradation, accidental mortality in both commercial and illegal gill and mesh nets and in shark nets set for bather protection, and traditional hunting (Marsh et al. 1996). The relative importance of these impacts has not been quantified. However, 15 of the 30 dugong carcasses necropsied between January and September 1996 showed evidence of having been caught in a net (Marsh et al. 1997) suggesting that interaction with nets is a significant cause of dugong mortality."

This decline threatens the World Heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef region. An explicit justification for the region’s inclusion on the World Heritage List was the fact that it “provides major feeding grounds for large populations of the endangered species, Dugong dugon,” (GBRMPA 1981). The Australian and Queensland governments agreed to several measures aimed at arresting this decline in 1997, including a resolution not to issue permits for the indigenous hunting of dugongs in the region, south of Cooktown (Fig. 1). The most controversial measure was the establishing of a two tiered system of Dugong Protection Areas (see Fig. 1). Foreshore and offshore set or drift nets were prohibited in seven Zone A Dugong Protection Areas in the Great Barrier Reef Region totalling 2,407 km2. River set nets were also prohibited in two of these areas (Fisheries Regulation (No. 11) 1997). Less-restrictive modifications were introduced in eight Zone B Dugong Protection Areas totalling 2,243 km2 (Fisheries Regulation (No. 11) 1997.  These modifications included net attendance requirements and changes to the specifications of set and drift nets. An additional Dugong Protection Area of 1,703 km2 was established in the Hervey Bay-Tin Can Bay area, immediately south of the Great Barrier Reef region. Gear modifications, net attendance rules, and local temporal and spatial closures were introduced to reduce the chances of dugongs encountering a net in the region (Fisheries Regulation (No. 11) 1997."
 

---

Citation and/or URL

Marsh, H. 2000, Evaluating management initiatives aimed at reducing the mortality of dugongs in gill and mesh nets in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Marine Mammal Science 16(3): 684 -694.

Spatial Coverage

Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area 

Temporal Coverage

Mid 1980's to approx. 1996

Update Frequency

Other Information

Fisheries Regulations 2008

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983.