A Dugong Research Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and Hervey Bay

PREAMBLE

The development of the program for the conservation of dugongs between Cooktown and Hervey Bay took place between 1997 and 1998. During this time the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Council, made up of Commonwealth and Queensland Government Ministers, sought information on habitat loss, appropriate management-related research into seagrass habitat issues, and advice on specific actions that may be taken to halt the decline in dugongs in these regions. At the 24^th Ministerial Council meeting on 14 August 1997, the Council established a taskforce of Commonwealth and Queensland officials to oversee the implementation of the Council’s decisions. The taskforce directed agencies to report on:

1. proposals for (a) monitoring trends in dugong populations and habitat and (b) performance standards and priority data needs; and
2. mechanisms to improve the coordination of relevant research with and between organisations.

At subsequent meetings the taskforce undertook to consider the prioritised list of research and monitoring projects needed for presentation to the next Ministerial Council meeting.

This research strategy was developed to address the directive of the taskforce. It was developed through a consultative process involving management agencies, research providers, groups affected by management decisions, and conservation groups.

In developing a graded list of potential research projects, it is acknowledged that not all projects will be equally relevant to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The research priorities presented in this document reflect the wide range of priorities among managers, researchers and stakeholders with interests in dugongs. The intent of this document is to make it as relevant as possible to a range of management and funding agencies with interests in dugong conservation. This was done by dividing projects into categories or 'Topics', then assigning broad priorities within each 'Topic'. It was felt that by doing so the research priority list would retain

flexibility for agencies wishing to fund projects of particular interest to them. In some circumstances, some independence from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority may be desirable and funding agencies such as the Cooperative Research Centre for Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Great Barrier Reef (CRC Reef Research Centre) may be better placed to undertake and/or coordinate research projects with some sensitivity.

Although this research strategy sets the basic framework and core areas for research in the next 3–5 years, this strategy is best considered as a ‘living document’. New or altered research ideas and opportunities may develop as a result of both the dynamic nature of research itself as well as the social and political environment in which dugongs are managed.

The expected uses of this document are: (a) researchers wishing to develop relevant project proposals for funding and (b) management/funding agencies who need to be aware of major research priorities relevant to the conservation of dugongs in eastern Australia.