For the layman, the role of dugongs as a marine management species is not always clear. Dugongs create the perfect breeding environment for a variety of fish species in the way they graze on the sea bed. A decline in their numbers disrupts the health and breeding cycles of fish that use the grass beds and this impacts the livelihood and food requirements of people. The Arabian Gulf is home to about 5,300 dugongs, of which almost 75 per cent live off the Abu Dhabi coast. It is the second-largest population in the world after Australia, which has up to 95,000.
This simple reality is at the forefront of Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi’s (EAD) dugong conservation efforts over the years. Its latest awareness campaign will educate school children, fishermen, boat owners, shoreline industries and the general public on the importance of protecting dugongs, thus addressing the removal of threats to them that include aggressive fishing, coastal development that leads to loss of sea habitat for them and the dangers of sea vehicles like powerboats, etc. Dugongs are key indicators of marine health and Abu Dhabi is making sure this fact does not lose its relevance.
