27 September 2007

Urgent community action and support is needed to help protect the Great Barrier Reef’s dugongs, which are at high risk of disappearing from the region.

The call from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority follows several dugong deaths along the coast between Townsville and Yeppoon since the beginning of September.

Dugong populations along the urban coast of Queensland have declined by more than 95 per cent in the last 45 years.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Acting Chairman John Tanzer urged the community to get behind measures to protect dugongs in the area.

“Dugongs are in trouble throughout the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and we all have to be protecting these remaining animals or I am afraid they will be extinct in the region,” he said.

Mr Tanzer said there had been 15 reported dugong deaths since January this year, however it would be naive to assume all dugong deaths had been reported.

“We support the Queensland Government in their attempts to address impacts on dugong through a review of the East Coast Inshore Finfish Fishery, in particular the large mesh net component of the fishery,” he said.

“The community can also help by slowing in their boats in seagrass areas and reporting dugong deaths to the EPA Hotline on 1300 130 372.

“While many fishermen are responsible in their use of nets, we encourage fishermen to supervise their nets to avoid accidental entanglement.”

Dugongs on the Great Barrier Reef continue to be affected by a range of human-related activities including boat strikes, declining water quality and net fishing.