A new report has said that the dugong population in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait is slowly growing after flooding destroyed seagrass habitats in 2022.
Researchers are working to get more funding to undertake a third round of aerial surveys in 2027.
Australian Marine Conservation Society's Great Barrier Reef campaign manager Simon Miller said the report was an "important" measure for the local dugong population.
Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation chair Shawn Wondunna-Foley said the importance of protecting seagrass and yuangan –the Butchulla word for dugong — was highlighted in the report.
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A new report has said the dugong population in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait is slowly growing after flooding destroyed seagrass habitats in 2022. The low number of calves reported has left one marine conservationist unsure about whether the vulnerable species is heading towards population revival.
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The article, shortened and in plain language
A new report has said that the dugong population in Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait is slowly growing after flooding destroyed seagrass habitats in 2022.
The low number of calves reported has left one marine conservationist unsure about whether the vulnerable species is heading towards population revival.
Researchers are working to get more funding to undertake a third round of aerial surveys in 2027.
An increase in dugong numbers spotted in coastal areas in south-east Queensland has researchers feeling cautiously optimistic.
James Cook University researchers conducted their second round of aerial surveys in Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait in 2024 to analyse how the vulnerable species was recovering after flooding reduced seagrass meadows in 2022.
The joint study with TropWATER released last month reported positive population growth and wider geographic spread due to the revival of seagrass habitats in zones.
Australian Marine Conservation Society's Great Barrier Reef campaign manager Simon Miller said the report was an "important" measure for the local dugong population.
According to the report, researchers at first counted about 109 dugongs in 2024 — a slight increase on the 103 dugongs noted in 2022.
The population change also aligned with the distribution of dugongs: in 2022, the marine mammals were mainly spotted in the central portion off Hervey Bay but had spread south towards the Great Sandy Strait in 2024.
Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation chair Shawn Wondunna-Foley said the importance of protecting seagrass and yuangan –the Butchulla word for dugong — was highlighted in the report.
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