The dugong (Dugong dugon) is the only herbivorous mammal that is strictly marine, and is the only extant species in the Family Dugongidae. It is listed as vulnerable to extinction at a global scale by The World Conservation Union (IUCN).

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is the only herbivorous mammal that is strictly marine, and is the only extant species in the Family Dugongidae. It is listed as vulnerable to extinction at a global scale by The World Conservation Union (IUCN).

The dugong has a large range that spans some 37 countries and territories and includes tropical and subtropical coastal and inland waters from East Africa to Vanuatu, between about 26° north and south of the Equator.

The dugong was known to frequent the southern shores of the Persian Gulf, and had long been suspected of occurring in Iranian waters, with unconfirmed sightings in the bay of Gwater. However, only recently its presence has been confirmed in Iran, with several sightings in the Hara Protected Area in the Strait of Khuran and a single sighting of two individuals in the Mond estuary.

Survey on dugongs

In most countries in the dugong’s range, knowledge of dugong distribution and abundance is known only from anecdotal information. In ten or so countries, some information on dugong distribution and abundance has been obtained from spatially and temporally limited surveys generally conducted parallel to the shoreline.

These surveys provide minimum counts only. Extensive quantitative aerial surveys using transects across the shoreline depth gradient have resulted in a more comprehensive knowledge of dugong distribution and abundance in the coastal waters of most (but not all) of the dugong’s range in northern Australia and the Persian Gulf region.

However, even in these regions, the information is not comprehensive enough to establish trends in abundance for most areas, especially as there is increasing evidence that dugongs undertake largescale movements.

 Distribution in Persian Gulf

It is generally believed that throughout much of its range, the dugong is represented by relict populations separated by large areas where its numbers have been greatly reduced or it is already extirpated. However, the degree to which dugong numbers have dwindled, and their range fragmented, is not known for any country in its range in Persian Gulf. It is believed that dugongs are still present at the historical limits of their range although there is evidence of a reduction in the dugong’s area of occupancy within this range.

Extensive quantitative aerial surveys using transects across the shoreline depth gradient have resulted in a more comprehensive knowledge of dugong distribution and abundance in the coastal waters of most (but not all) of the dugong’s range in the south of Persian Gulf.

Abu Dhabi is saving the dugong

The Persian Gulf is home to about 5,300 dugongs, of which almost 75 per cent live off the Abu Dhabi coast. It is the second-largest population in the world after Australia (including Papua New Guinea), which has up to 95,000.

Dr. Dona Kwam and Himansu Sekhar Das are two experts who work on conservation of dugongs in south of Persian Gulf. Dr. Kwan operates out of the CMS-Abu Dhabi office, which has been hosted by the Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi (EAD) for the past five years.

The office represents a major collaboration between CMS and the UAE to conserve vulnerable migratory species such as dugongs. Unfortunately Iran till now has not any similar plan for dugongs in its coastlines.

Dr. Sekhar Das is EAD head and also works on Marine Threatened Species and Habitats, Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity. The author had an interview with Dr. Sekar Das about a year ago. At that time, he mentioned that “an estimated population of 5700 dugongs occurs within the Persian Gulf and there are Marine protected areas (MPAs) covering dugong dense areas in the range states, namely, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arab.”

“The MPAs are managed by the respective states, besides, all the dugong range states of the Persian Gulf are signatory to UNEP-CMS dugong conservation MoU (Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs) and are obliged to implement actions under the MoU to protect dugongs locally and regionally,” he added.

Some basic points

Some studies has been done by archeologists in Persian Gulf. The life history of dugongs is being studied by researchers working within the region by undertaking research and monitoring of the species and its habitats.

Traditionally, dugongs were hunted for food by local people and even appeared in the south of Persian Gulf fish markets in the 1970s. Dugong tusks have been used as sword handles and, in 2009, an archaeological dig on a small island off the coast of Umm Al Quwain unearthed dugong bones, believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes.

The future for dugongs in Persian Gulf region is uncertain but appears bleak. Populations appear extremely small and fragmented. Pressures from gill netting, shark netting, and habitat destruction may lead to the extirpation of dugongs. There is an urgent need to convert current fishing methods to sustainable practices.

It is highly unlikely that the dugong population in the region can survive (let alone recover) unless immediate and effective actions are taken towards their conservation, and these actions are adopted by the local authorities and communities.

Advance research in Persian Gulf region includes aerial survey to estimate population, satellite tagging to understand dugong biology including migration, genetic study to ascertain population structure. Genetic analysis to determine the population structure and the closeness (near-neighbor) to other dugong population is being studied under an UNEP-CMS program.

The Future of Dugongs

With regard to effectively addressing threats to dugongs in Persian Gulf, conservation plans must be noticed more. Projects could include seagrass conservation, developing tourism projects or controlling the use of destructive fishing practices such as moving people off nets to using hook and line.

Protecting the dugong’s seagrass meadows (their main source of food) in sheltered shallow water is essential because if there is not enough to eat, the dugong does not breed normally. The seagrass beds are also nurseries of fish, turtles and other marine life.

in an interview with Gulf News Dr. Kwan said “the challenge is to design projects where the local people don’t lose anything in terms of food so the benefits of changing the way they fish outweighs what they are currently doing, including the seagrass ecosystem as well sends out a much stronger message to local people struggling to make a living.”