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Dugong Status Report and Action Plans for Countries and Territories Item Type Report Authors Eros, C.; Hugues, J.; Penrose, H.; Marsh, H. Citation UNEP/DEWA/RS.02-1 Publisher UNEP Download date 28/09/2021 05:31:59 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/317 Figure 5.1 – The Palau region in relation to the Philippines and Indonesia. used to give dugong ribs to a carver who had died performed mainly at night from small boats powered with recently. Locally crafted jewellery from dugong ribs was outboard motors (>35hp). Most dugongs are harpooned on sale at a minimum of four stores in Koror in 1991. At after being chased. A hunter who used to dynamite least two of the retailers knew that this was illegal (Marsh dugongs (Brownell et al. 1981) claimed that he had et al. 1995). This practice had stopped by 1997 (Idechong ceased this practice in 1978. The hunters interviewed in & Smith pers comm. 1998). 1991 maintained that nets are never used to catch The major threat to dugongs in Palau is poaching. dugongs, although some of them knew that netting is an Although hunting is illegal, dugongs are still poached effective capture method. All the hunters were aware that regularly in the Koror area and along the western coast of killing dugongs is illegal. Their overwhelming motive for Babeldaob (Figure 5.2). The extent and nature of hunting hunting is that it is an exciting way to obtain meat. The was investigated by Brownell et al. (1981) and Marsh et illegality adds to the thrill. al. (1995). The latter group interviewed 23 knowledgeable Two hunters who had commenced hunting in the locals (including five admitted dugong hunters). One of 1960s conceded in 1991 that dugongs were much less these informants claimed that at least 13 dugongs had common than in the 1960s and 1970s. However, they were been killed in 1990, a level that was unlikely to be reluctant to stop hunting while others continue to do so, sustainable. Between December 1996 and December particularly as the risk of significant punishment is slight. 1997, there were at least five dugongs taken despite the Thus, hunting continues, despite the identity of at least concurrent campaign conducted by the Palau some hunters being well known, social pressure from non- Conservation Society (see below). hunters, and the legislation making it illegal. A significant Traditionally dugongs were hunted with heavy spears decline in poaching has been reported in recent years. It is from canoes (Rathbun et al. 1988). Interviews with not known whether this reduction in poaching is a residents indicated that in more recent times, dugongs are consequence of a decline in the availability of dugongs taken with spears, firearms or dynamite. Hunting is (Idechong & Smith pers comm. 1998). 85 Existing Conservation Initiatives Legislation The Palauan legislation relevant to dugongs is the Protected Sea Life, subchapter iv on dugongs. Subsection (a) of this law states that ‘No person shall kill, trap, capture, wound, possess, transport, restrain or otherwise have under his control any dugong or any part or product’. Violation of this law includes imprisonment for a period of six months and/or a fine of ‘not more than’ US$50 for the first offence. For every offense thereafter, the convicted person could be imprisoned for not more than one year and/or fined ‘for not more’ than US$100 (Subchapter iv is reproduced in full in Marsh & Lawler 1998). Research As detailed above, aerial surveys to assess the status of dugong populations in the waters surrounding Palau were conducted in 1978, 1983 and 1991. In 1991, interviews were also conducted with the local hunters of Palau to obtain information on dugong numbers and local hunting and poaching activities. Management A Dugong Management and Education Program Figure 5.2 – Palau showing place names conducted by the Palau Conservation Society in 1996 and mentioned in the text. 1997 used the dugong as a target species to stir national pride in Palau’s natural heritage. Throughout the The population models of Marsh (1995a) suggest that campaign, every effort was made to highlight the the sustainable level of exploitation may be of the order of dugong’s characteristics that are similar to humans. The only 2% of females per year. If five females are killed in campaign included interactive presentations to Palau each year, at least 250 females (500 dugongs) would community leaders, school and other youth groups and be needed in the waters surrounding the archipelago for traditional groups, the distribution of posters designed by the population to be maintained. Marsh et al. (1995) a local volunteer artist, and fact sheets. The Palau consider this extremely unlikely in the light of the low Community College collaborated with the Palau number of dugongs sighted during the aerial surveys Conservation Society in strengthening the image of the (see above). dugong as their college mascot. The Education Program was highly successful in • raising the understanding of the general public about Boat-related Impacts and Ecotourism the status of the dugong in Palau Collisions with speed boats have not been a major • stimulating interest in the dugong and the marine cause of dugong mortality in Palau. However this has the environment among Palauans potential to become a problem in Malakal Harbour, an • increasing public support for tougher laws to important dugong area. protect dugongs. The Dugong Management and Education Program played a role in changing the Palauan attitude towards dugongs. In 1998 hunting activities were still continuing, 86 albeit secretly. This reflects a change in community priority. A dive survey to map the distribution of attitude, as in 1991, hunting was carried out openly even seagrass species would be a useful approach. Seagrass though Palauans gave Marsh et al. (1995) the impression beds should be mapped at a fine spatial scale and that they appreciated dugongs as part of their fauna and resurveyed every five years. The frequency could be natural heritage. At the conclusion of the Program, the altered if major changes in the extent or species Palau Conservation Society decided to composition are detected. • continue the education program and school visits • Likely sources of indirect impacts on dugong habitat • seek assistance in securing support for future dugong including major developments and land use practices research in Palau should be documented in a GIS in association with the • increase public support for tougher laws to seagrass survey. protect dugongs by providing information to Palau’s lawmakers Management • survey areas of known dugong habitat and make recommendations to protect these areas • High priority should be given to continuing the public • work with schools to develop curriculum material on awareness and education program developed by the endangered species. Palau Conservation Society. Public education has the potential to foster Palauan pride in the dugong as a significant feature of their unique marine environment and as a “flagship” or “umbrella” species Suggested Conservation Initiatives for marine conservation initiatives. A successful education and awareness program should increase An Action Plan detailed specific goals and objectives community pressure against poaching. Education for dugong conservation in waters surrounding Palau is programs should include current national and state outlined in full in Marsh & Lawler (1998) and reproduced enforcement officers, police, maritime surveillance, in part here. rangers, conservation officers, tourist operators and known poachers. Research • The causes of dugong mortality and disturbance in Palauan waters should be identified and minimised. • Aerial surveys similar to those conducted in 1978, Poaching is the most serious threat to dugongs in 1983, and 1991 should be carried out once every five Palau and should be stopped as a matter of urgency. To years. The aerial surveys provide a qualitative do this it will be necessary to strengthen and enforce indication of trends in abundance and in changes in the legislation banning dugong hunting. Reactions the areas used by dugongs. The major reason for from hunters indicate that civil penalties, such as advocating a five-year interval is that funds for more confiscating the hunter’s boat and motor, would be a frequent surveys could be better spent on education more significant deterrent than fines and initiatives. A survey interval of more than five years imprisonment. Strengthening the law must be reduces the likelihood of maintaining consistency in accompanied by effective enforcement. Training of survey methodology because of the difficulty in national and state conservation officers in ensuring continuity of personnel between surveys. enforcement is required in addition to an education • A more cost-efficient alternative to aerial surveys program to educate known poachers on the impacts of would be to develop a ‘dugong watch’ (incidental poaching on dugongs (see above). sighting program) as part of a public education • The present law allows a person who finds a dugong program, perhaps involving school children. Such an dead in fishing gear to keep it after reporting the approach has been successful in Vanuatu and incident to the relevant official. This law should be produced a great deal of useful information on modified to prevent hunters from using it to dugong distribution and relative abundance circumvent the ban on poaching. (Chambers et al. 1989). A stranding network that • Dugong habitats need to be protected. Information on encourages and facilitates public reporting of dugong the distribution of dugongs and subaquatic vegetation carcasses could be implemented in conjunction with including seagrasses should be incorporated into the the sighting network. design of Marine Protected Areas along with • The status of seagrass beds throughout the Palauan information on activities likely to damage these archipelago needs to be assessed. Identification of communities (e.g. changes in water quality resulting habitats suitable for dugongs in Palau should be given from sediment runoff from land clearing, major 87 developments, especially in the Koror area (Figure Conclusions 5.2), and increases in boat traffic).