Dugong | Ouranos

Dugong
Dugong dugon

Localisation

Indian and Pacific Ocean coasts

Red Sea

Arabian Sea

Threats

Urbanization

Navigation

Fishing

Recreation

Industrial, military, agricultural and forestry pollution

Storms and floods

Human and Veterinary Medicine

Handicraft

Human food

Population

Decreasing

U.I.C.N. :

Global : V.U. - Vulnerable

East African subpopulation : C.R. - Critically Endangered

Nansei subpopulation : C.R. - Critically Endangered

New Caledonia subpopulation : E.N. - Endangered

C.I.T.E.S : Appendix I (19/07/2000)

African Convention of Nature and Natural Resources : Class A (16/06/1969)

Trade

International :

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DUGONGS (Dugong dugon) AND THEIR HABITATS THROUGHOUT THEIR RANGE (Abu Dhabi, 31/10/2007) :

Noting that dugongs have a priority for conservation action through their listing in the respective appendices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

African Union :

AFRICAN CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (Date of Adoption: 15/09/1968, Date of last signature: 24/01/2013, Date entry into force: 16/06/1969)

Dugong dugon - Dugong : Class A

Australia :

In some regions of Australia, hunting is still permitted, according to quotas that are not always sustainable.

France :

The species has been protected in Mayotte since 1995 and several actions have been carried out to ensure compliance with these regulations (§1.13.2). In addition, with the decrease in the number of dugongs, it seems that its exploitation is no longer anchored in local traditions. However, dugong meat is still considered a delicacy and is sold at the price of the noblest fish (about 5€/kg). The high price of this meat and the mass of an animal (150 to 300 kg) mean that animals caught accidentally are systematically kept to consume and/or sell the meat illegally.

Japan :

Dugongs are considered as living monuments in Japan. Okinawa dugongs (Nansei subpopulation) habitat is threatened by American bases, causing debates and controversies.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Section 402

The NHPA mandates that U.S. federal agencies must avoid or mitigate harm to places or things of cultural significance to other countries. The Okinawa dugong, listed as a cultural monument under Japan’s Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, is one such entity. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), in its handling of the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) project, failed to directly assess the environmental and cultural impacts of the project on the dugong population. Instead, it deferred to the Japanese government's evaluation. The court ruled that the NHPA requires the head of the responsible federal agency—in this case, the DOD—to independently consider and mitigate these effects. This failure to comply led to the court’s finding that the DOD violated Section 402 of the NHPA, compelling corrective actions to address the environmental and cultural harms of the project.

Japan’s Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties

Under Japan’s legal framework, the dugong is recognized as a cultural monument of national significance. This designation emphasizes its dual importance as both an endangered marine species and a cultural icon for the Okinawan people. The construction of the U.S. airbase in Henoko Bay poses a direct threat to the seagrass habitat essential for the survival of the dugong, exacerbating its critically endangered status. Despite Japan’s legal protections, the ongoing military base expansion raises concerns about the balance between cultural preservation and national security.

Endangered Species Protections

The dugong is listed as critically endangered by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment and is also included on the U.S. Endangered Species List. Conservation efforts are imperative given that fewer than 50 dugongs were estimated to remain in 1997, and recent surveys suggest only three individuals currently inhabit Okinawa. The destruction of the seagrass habitat in Henoko Bay due to airbase construction directly threatens this population, making compliance with environmental laws and international conservation commitments vital for the species' survival.

Mozambique, Vietnam and other countries :

Poaching persists in some countries at an unsustainable frequency, such as Mozambique or Vietnam.

References :

CONSERVATION OF NATURE.doc

PNA_Dugong-Mayotte_2012-2016.pdf (biodiversite.gouv.fr)

Dugong dugon (Dugong) (iucnredlist.org)

Dugong dugon Eastern Africa subpopulation (Dugong) (iucnredlist.org)

Dugong dugon Nansei subpopulation (Dugong) (iucnredlist.org)

Dugong Dugong dugon Nansei subpopulation has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. Dugong dugon Nansei subpopulation is listed as Critically Endangered under criteria C1; D.

MOU Text | Dugong

Legal Appeal Challenges U.S. Military Base Construction in Japan, Threat to Rare Okinawa Dugongs | Turtle Island Restoration Network

Fighting to Protect the Dugongs of Japan's Henoko Bay | Saving Earth | Encyclopedia Britannica