02 Jun Dugong Conservation: A Marine Priority for India’s Coastal Future
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the Topic of Dugong Conservation: A Marine Priority for India’s Coastal Future
SYLLABUS MAPPING:
GS-3- Environment- Dugong Conservation: A Marine Priority for India’s Coastal Future
FOR PRELIMS
Why are dugongs important for marine ecosystems? What are the main threats they face in India?
FOR MAINS
What role do dugongs play in coastal ecosystems?
Why in the News?
On May 28, World Dugong Day was observed to highlight the conservation needs of dugongs, India’s only herbivorous marine mammal. Dugongs are classified as ‘regionally endangered’ in India, with their population declining due to habitat loss, pollution, fishing practices, and climate change. India recently created its first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, covering 448 sq. km to protect seagrass habitats vital for dugongs. Conservation efforts involve local communities, NGOs like the OMCAR Foundation, and government agencies. Seagrass beds, critical to dugong survival, also play a key role in carbon sequestration. The article underscores the urgency of habitat protection, regulation of harmful fishing, and promotion of dugong-friendly ecotourism.
Species Profile: Dugong
1. Scientific Name: Dugong dugon
2. Habitat: Shallow, warm coastal waters – especially in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch.
3. Diet: Strictly herbivorous – depends on seagrass meadows (Halophila, Halodule).
4. Lifespan: Up to 70 years.
5. Reproductive traits: Low birth rate, long gestation, calving interval of 3–7 years → leads to slow population growth.
Threats to Dugongs
1. Habitat Loss and Degradation: Coastal development, port construction, dredging, and land reclamation destroy or fragment seagrass meadows — the primary habitat and food source for dugongs.
2. Seagrass Decline: Pollution, sedimentation, eutrophication, and climate-induced events like cyclones degrade seagrass beds, directly affecting dugong survival.
3. Fishing Practices: Accidental entanglement in fishing nets, especially bottom trawling and gillnets, leads to injuries and fatalities among dugongs.
4. Boat Strikes: Dugongs often feed near the surface, making them vulnerable to collisions with fast-moving boats, especially in shallow waters.
5. Pollution and Waste: Marine pollution from sewage, industrial waste, and plastic harms dugong health and degrades their habitat.
6. Illegal Hunting: Despite legal protections, dugongs are sometimes hunted for meat and oil in remote areas.
7. Climate Change: Rising sea temperatures, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise impact seagrass ecosystems and dugong distribution.
8. Low Reproductive Rate: Dugongs reproduce slowly, with calving intervals of 3–7 years, making population recovery difficult in the face of external threats.
Conservation Measures for Dugongs
1. Dugong Conservation Reserve (2021): India’s first reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu (448 sq. km) protects seagrass habitat and dugongs.
2. Legal Protection: Dugongs are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, ensuring strict protection.
3. International Commitment: India is a signatory to the CMS Dugong MoU (2008) for regional cooperation on dugong conservation.
4. Seagrass Mapping: Over 5,900 sq. km of seagrass meadows mapped; crucial for dugong feeding and carbon sequestration.
5. Community Involvement: Fisherfolk engaged through training, eco-tourism, and awareness programs by NGOs and forest departments.
6. Research and Monitoring: Institutions like the Wildlife Institute of India conduct population surveys, habitat studies, and tagging.
7. Sustainable Fishing Initiatives: Promotion of dugong-safe fishing practices to reduce bycatch and marine disturbances.
Challenges to Dugongs
1. Seagrass Habitat Loss: Rapid coastal development, dredging, and pollution lead to degradation of vital seagrass meadows.
2. Fishing Pressure: Bycatch in trawl nets and gillnets remains a major threat due to lack of enforcement and awareness.
3. Boat Traffic and Collisions: Increasing marine transport in shallow coastal waters leads to frequent collisions with dugongs.
4. Climate Change Impact: Rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events affect seagrass growth and dugong distribution.
5. Pollution and Waste: Marine pollution, including oil spills and plastic debris, harms both dugongs and their habitats.
6. Low Reproductive Rate: Dugongs have long gestation periods and low birth rates, making population recovery slow and fragile.
7. Lack of Awareness: Many coastal communities remain unaware of dugongs’ ecological importance and legal protection status.
8. Inadequate Monitoring and Data: Limited data on population trends, migration, and health hinders effective conservation planning.
Significance of Seagrass Ecosystems
1. Primary Food Source for Dugongs: Seagrass meadows are the exclusive diet of dugongs, essential for their survival and distribution.
2. Carbon Sequestration: Seagrass beds act as blue carbon sinks, storing up to 434.9 tonnes of carbon per hectare, aiding climate change mitigation.
3. Marine Biodiversity Hotspots: They provide habitat and nursery grounds for fish, turtles, crustaceans, and other marine species.
4. Coastal Protection: Seagrass roots stabilise the seabed, reducing erosion and buffering coastlines from storm surges.
5. Water Quality Improvement: Seagrass filters nutrients and traps sediments, enhancing water clarity and reducing algal blooms.
6. Support to Fisheries: Many commercially important fish species breed and feed in seagrass beds, sustaining local livelihoods.
7. Indicator of Ocean Health: The presence and health of seagrass ecosystems reflect overall marine ecosystem stability and productivity.
Way forward
1. Expand Protected Areas: Establish more Dugong Conservation Reserves in key habitats like the Gulf of Mannar and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
2. Restore Seagrass Meadows: Launch large-scale seagrass restoration projects using scientific techniques and community participation.
3. Promote Dugong-Safe Fishing: Encourage eco-friendly fishing practices, ban destructive gears like bottom trawling in dugong zones.
4. Enhance Community Involvement: Train and incentivize local fishers as marine stewards for monitoring and reporting dugong sightings.
5. Strengthen Law Enforcement: Improve surveillance, patrolling, and enforcement of Wildlife Protection Act provisions.
6. Invest in Research and Data: Increase funding for dugong population studies, tagging, migration tracking, and seagrass mapping.
7. Raise Public Awareness: Conduct widespread awareness campaigns in coastal areas highlighting dugongs’ ecological importance.
8. Regional and Global Collaboration: Deepen cooperation under the CMS Dugong MoU for joint research, funding, and knowledge-sharing.
Conclusion
Dugongs, often called the “sea cows” of the Indian Ocean, are not only iconic marine mammals but also vital indicators of healthy coastal ecosystems. Their survival is intricately tied to the well-being of seagrass habitats, which in turn support biodiversity, coastal protection, and climate mitigation. Despite legal safeguards and recent initiatives like the Palk Bay Conservation Reserve, dugongs continue to face severe threats from human activities, habitat loss, and climate change. A multi-pronged approach involving community engagement, habitat restoration, sustainable fisheries, and scientific monitoring is essential to reverse their decline. Strengthening regional cooperation under global frameworks like the CMS Dugong MoU will further enhance conservation outcomes. Saving dugongs is not just about preserving a species—it is about securing the future of India’s marine ecology.
Download Plutus IAS Current Affairs (Eng) 2nd June 2025
Prelims Questions
Q. With reference to Dugongs, consider the following statements:
1. Dugongs are exclusively carnivorous marine mammals.
2. They are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
3. India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve is located in the Gulf of Kutch.
4. Dugongs play an important role in maintaining the health of seagrass ecosystems.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a). 2 and 4 only
(b). 1 and 3 only
(c). 1, 2 and 3 only
(d). 2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: A
Mains Questions
Q. Dugongs are vital to marine biodiversity and coastal ecosystem services, yet remain critically threatened in India. Discuss the major threats to dugongs, the conservation efforts being made, and the way forward for ensuring their survival.
(250 words, 15 marks)
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