“A prominent marine researcher says it is not necessary to quantify how many dugongs are being harpooned each year as part of Indigenous catches.
“Professor Helene Marsh, from James Cook University in north Queensland, says she is confident there are healthy stocks of the marine mammal in northern Australian waters.
“She says results indicate at least 40 per cent of dugongs are likely to reside in Northern Territory waters.
“Professor Marsh says there are a range of management tools that could be applied to improve the sustainability of Indigenous dugong harvesting and that working with individual coastal communities would be a far more effective way to protect the animals.
“Some communities may choose to regulate catches, some communities may choose to have closed seasons,” she said.
“Other communities may choose to have closed areas, other communities may want to you some sort of gear restrictions.”
Read more here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/15/2163405.htm
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.