Dugong Conservation Challenges and Efforts in India

The dugong population in India faces increasing threats, as brought into light in a recent report presented at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. The marine mammal’s survival is uncertain in key habitats like the Gulf of Kutch and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Gulf of Mannar-Palk Bay region shows population decline. Dugongs are protected under Indian law but remain vulnerable due to habitat degradation and human activities.

What Are Dugongs?

Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are marine mammals related to manatees. They have a dolphin-like tail and grow up to 10 feet long, weighing about 420 kilograms. Dugongs are herbivores that feed exclusively on seagrass. They inhabit shallow coastal waters, lagoons, and estuaries less than 10 metres deep. Each dugong consumes 30 to 40 kilograms of seagrass daily.

Ecological Importance of Dugongs

Dugongs maintain healthy seagrass ecosystems by grazing, which prunes leaves and removes old shoots. This natural process prevents overgrowth and promotes carbon storage in sediments. Seagrass meadows are crucial carbon sinks, helping regulate climate. Dugongs also release nutrients while feeding, supporting fish, shellfish, and other marine life. Seagrass beds with dugongs produce more fish, benefiting local fisheries.

Threats to Dugong Populations

Dugongs in India have drastically declined from historical numbers. Estimates range from 250 to 450 individuals, with the largest group in the Gulf of Mannar-Palk Bay. Smaller groups exist in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Gulf of Kutch. Major threats include accidental entanglement in fishing nets, habitat pollution, and coastal development. Toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, and mercury have been found in dugong tissues, indicating environmental contamination.

Challenges in Population Monitoring

Dugongs live in murky, shallow waters making surveys difficult. Their elusive nature results in uncertain population estimates. Traditional survey methods often fail to detect them accurately. This hampers conservation planning and threat assessment.

Government Conservation Initiatives

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change formed a Task Force in 2010 to address dugong conservation. A national recovery programme partners with Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Tamil Nadu established the Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay in 2022, covering 448 square kilometres to protect seagrass meadows and dugongs. Despite these efforts, enforcement of protective regulations and reduction of fishing-related threats need strengthening.

Future Conservation Needs

Reducing bycatch remains critical. Affordable, alternative fishing gear and incentive-based models are needed to lessen fishing pressure on dugong habitats. Continuous monitoring and stricter enforcement will support population recovery. Addressing pollution and habitat degradation is essential for long-term survival.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Critically discuss the role of marine mammals like dugongs in maintaining coastal ecosystem balance and their impact on fisheries productivity.
2. Examine the challenges faced in monitoring elusive marine species and suggest technological or policy solutions to improve conservation outcomes.
3. Analyse the impact of industrial pollution and heavy metals on marine biodiversity and coastal communities in India.
4. Estimate the effectiveness of protected area networks in India for marine species conservation and how they can be integrated with local livelihoods.

Answer Hints:

1. Critically discuss the role of marine mammals like dugongs in maintaining coastal ecosystem balance and their impact on fisheries productivity.

1. Dugongs graze seagrass meadows, pruning leaves and uprooting old shoots, maintaining ecosystem health.
2. This grazing prevents overgrowth, promotes seagrass productivity, and enhances carbon storage in sediments.
3. Seagrass ecosystems act as efficient carbon sinks, contributing to climate regulation.
4. Dugong feeding releases nutrients from sediments, supporting fish, shellfish, and invertebrate populations.
5. Seagrass beds with dugongs show higher fish production, benefiting local fisheries economically.
6. Marine mammals like dugongs thus sustain biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and coastal livelihoods.

2. Examine the challenges faced in monitoring elusive marine species and suggest technological or policy solutions to improve conservation outcomes.

1. Dugongs inhabit murky, shallow coastal waters making visual surveys difficult and unreliable.
2. Traditional survey methods often fail due to low visibility and elusive behavior.
3. Population estimates remain uncertain, complicating conservation planning.
4. Technological solutions – use of drone surveys, underwater acoustic monitoring, satellite tagging, and eDNA sampling.
5. Policy solutions – enhanced funding for research, community-based monitoring, capacity building, and data-sharing frameworks.
6. Integration of local fisher knowledge and participatory approaches can improve detection and protection.

3. Analyse the impact of industrial pollution and heavy metals on marine biodiversity and coastal communities in India.

1. Industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and untreated wastewater introduce toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead into marine ecosystems.
2. These metals accumulate in sediments where seagrasses grow, entering the food chain affecting dugongs and other marine species.
3. Heavy metal contamination impairs marine mammal health, reproductive success, and survival rates.
4. Pollution leads to degradation of critical habitats like seagrass meadows, reducing biodiversity and fisheries productivity.
5. Coastal communities dependent on fishing face economic losses and health risks from contaminated seafood.
6. Addressing pollution requires stricter regulation, wastewater treatment, and sustainable industrial practices.

4. Estimate the effectiveness of protected area networks in India for marine species conservation and how they can be integrated with local livelihoods.

1. Protected areas like the Dugong Conservation Reserve (448 sq km in Palk Bay) help safeguard critical habitats and seagrass meadows.
2. Legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act offers highest protection to dugongs against hunting and trade.
3. Effectiveness limited by enforcement gaps, ongoing threats like fishing bycatch, and habitat degradation.
4. Integration with local livelihoods requires alternative fishing gear, incentive-based models to reduce harmful practices.
5. Community engagement and co-management increase compliance and conservation success.
6. Adaptive management, continuous monitoring, and inter-state coordination improve protected area outcomes.