Status of Red Sea Dugongs

Nasr, Dirar H.; Shawky, Ahmed M.; Vine, Peter

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-99417-8_18

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…In western Asia (Arabian region), there is archaeological evidence of a 6,000-year-old dugong-hunting culture in the Arabian/Persian Gulf (Méry et al, 2009). Although officially banned by most range states in the region, some illegal hunting still occurs, at least in the Red Sea (Nasr et al, 2019). Dugongs are still caught incidentally in gillnets in both the Red Sea (Nasr et al, 2019) and the Arabian/Persian Gulf.…”

Section: Sireniansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although officially banned by most range states in the region, some illegal hunting still occurs, at least in the Red Sea (Nasr et al, 2019). Dugongs are still caught incidentally in gillnets in both the Red Sea (Nasr et al, 2019) and the Arabian/Persian Gulf. These animals are variously released if still alive, given to researchers to study, or consumed (Nasr et al, 2019).…”

Section: Sireniansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dugongs are still caught incidentally in gillnets in both the Red Sea (Nasr et al, 2019) and the Arabian/Persian Gulf. These animals are variously released if still alive, given to researchers to study, or consumed (Nasr et al, 2019). The major drivers for deliberate captures in fishing gears or illegal hunting are poverty and declining fish stocks (Nasr et al, 2019), enabled by weak or nonexistent enforcement.…”

Section: Sireniansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These animals are variously released if still alive, given to researchers to study, or consumed (Nasr et al, 2019). The major drivers for deliberate captures in fishing gears or illegal hunting are poverty and declining fish stocks (Nasr et al, 2019), enabled by weak or nonexistent enforcement. Although little is published on the current status of the dugong population(s) in this region, it appears to support the largest dugong population outside Australia (Marsh et al, 2011), mainly in the waters of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.…”

Section: Sireniansmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Widespread Use of Migratory Megafauna for Aquatic Wild Meat in the Tropics and Subtropics

Ingram

Prideaux²,

Hodgins³

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Wild animals are captured or taken opportunistically, and the meat, body parts, and/or eggs are consumed for local subsistence or used for traditional purposes to some extent across most of the world, particularly in the tropics and subtropics. The consumption of aquatic animals is widespread, in some places has been sustained for millennia, and can be an important source of nutrition, income, and cultural identity to communities. Yet, economic opportunities to exploit wildlife at higher levels have led to unsustainable exploitation of some species. In the literature, there has been limited focus on the exploitation of aquatic non-fish animals for food and other purposes. Understanding the scope and potential threat of aquatic wild meat exploitation is an important first step toward appropriate inclusion on the international policy and conservation management agenda. Here, we conduct a review of the literature, and present an overview of the contemporary use of aquatic megafauna (cetaceans, sirenians, chelonians, and crocodylians) in the global tropics and subtropics, for species listed on the Appendices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). We find that consumption of aquatic megafauna is widespread in coastal regions, although to varying degrees, and that some species are likely to be at risk from overexploitation, particularly riverine megafauna. Finally, we provide recommendations for CMS in the context of the mandate of the Aquatic Wild Meat Working Group.

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Section: Sireniansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sireniansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sireniansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sireniansmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Widespread Use of Migratory Megafauna for Aquatic Wild Meat in the Tropics and Subtropics

Ingram

Prideaux²,

Hodgins³

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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“…The other member of the Dugongidae, Stellers, is the sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), which is extinct due to over-exploitation for meat (Marsh et al, 2012), demonstrating the vulnerability of species under the order Sirenia. Historically, the global population of dugongs have declined over the last few decades (Muir et al, 2012;Nasr et al, 2019;Pusineri et al, 2013;Rajamani & Marsh, 2010;SURAPPA, 2013). In Kenya, large herds were reported in the 1950s and '60s, with a group of 500 dugongs sighted in (EAME & Ecoregion, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dugongs in Kenya – a survey on status and Trends

Awadh¹,

Mwakumanya²,

Omar³

2021

AJES

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess Dugongs' status distribution of dugongs (Dugong dugon) in Kenya. A dugong is a herbivorous marine mammal of the tropical and subtropical Indo-West Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Globally, IUCN classified the Dugong as rare; Kenya has done the same under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013, thus making Dugongs a conservation priority. The study's main objective was to assess dugongs' distribution and status for conservation in Kenya since the 1960s. Methodology: The study employed a concurrent triangulation design to corroborate findings from three methods. The study used a literature review, semi-structured questionnaires, guided interviews, and focus group discussions with respondents on obtaining socio-economic data. Data was collected in fishing villages with documented and or anecdotal records of the availability of dugongs. Experiences 378 fishers were reached for the study. The study aggregated the number of dugongs sited by decades from the six sampled study sites and presented the data on a line graph. Further, the study computed the rate of change in dugongs from one decade to the next. Findings: More than 100 dugongs occurred in the Kenyan waters in the 1960s; their population has declined considerably since then. The dugong habitat and feeding area have also shrunk over the same period, further aggravating the situation. There were more than thirty known dugong feeding areas in the study areas; only 10 of them are still known to host dugongs. An estimated 20 dugongs are known to be present in the Kenyan marine waters in the current times. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: This study confirmed the presence of dugongs in Kenya. Further, the dugong numbers are very small, thus showing an urgent need for their conservation. Dugongs are found in Kiunga and Kisite Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and their immediate surroundings; this amplifies the conservation value of the MPAs.

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