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11. Dugongs in Australia and the Pacific
- University Press of Florida
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11 Dugongs in Australia and the Pacific Kirstin Dobbs, Ivan Lawler, and Donna Kwan In the Pacific region, dugongs occur in the coastal waters of Australia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, with occasional sightings in Guam and Yap1 (map 11.1). This region presents a diverse array of cultures, social and government systems, conservation and threat abatement approaches , and biological habitats in relation to dugong distribution, use, and management. For the most part, dugong populations throughout the Pacific region are relict populations, and most are declining. The only locations with significant populations are northern Australia (from Shark Bay to Moreton Bay) and southern Papua New Guinea, particularly Torres Strait, where the largest remaining population of dugongs in the world is found. The reasons dugongs have such a high profile in the region are varied: their value as a subsistence food; their importance in the maintenance of cultural protocols and activities; their iconic and intrinsic value to human populations ; and their status as threatened or endangered species. Perhaps less well known, and likely very important , is their role in structuring the seagrass ecosystem2. Coastal Habitat Range PAPUA NEW GUINEA AUSTRALIA INDONESIA Kimberley Coast WESTERN AUSTRALIA NORTHERN TERRITORY Shark Bay Gulf of Carpentaria Coral Sea Nor thern Great Barrier Reef Cape York . Cooktown QUEENSLAND Cardwell/ Hinchinbrook Region Shoalwater Bay Hervey Bay Moreton Bay SOUTH AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES Indian Ocean Tasman Sea Indian Ocean Australian Dugongs VICTORIA . Brisbane . Sydney Tropic of Capricorn Timor Sea Tropic of Capricorn . Canberra .Melbourne .Adelaide Princess Charlotte Bay Northwest Shelf .Broome Port Hedland . Torres Strait Southern Great Barrier Reef Cape Cleveland . Gladstone . Mackay 500 miles 800 kilometers 140 140 N Map 11.1. Australian dugong habitat range. (Map by Ellen McElhinny.) 100 Section I: Regional Issues in Sirenian Conservation Cultural Significance Dugongs are of great cultural importance to Indigenous communities and are an essential element of the people’s maritime culture, featuring prominently in stories and legends. In Papua New Guinea many myths and legends tell of the origin of dugong or of the techniques and rituals used in hunting3. Dugongs also feature in many rituals meant to ensure hunting success, and specific parts of dugongs are believed to possess magic properties. Many Indigenous people in Papua New Guinea and northern Australia have totemic associations with dugongs. Some individual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people associate their personal identity with their role as dugong hunters. Dugongs are hunted throughout the region, both as a subsistence food source and for rituals such as weddings , funerals, and feasts. A dugong yields on average 115 kg of meat and fat and 17 liters of oil—35% of its body weight. In the islands of Torres Strait large quantities of dugong meat (estimates of up to 300 mg/person/ day) are still consumed by local communities4. Elsewhere , where dugong populations are small, hunting is largely prohibited, and only occasional animals are taken either illegally or as incidental takes5. In some Pacific countries and Australia, customary law and cultural practices determine when animals can be caught and who can catch and butcher them. For example, in the Manus Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG), certain people, particularly women, are forbidden to hunt or eat dugong6. Material expression of the cultural and spiritual significance of the dugong is found in the paintings, prints, artifacts, and ceramics of many contemporary Indigenous artists. In Australia great importance is placed on the social sharing of the meat with members of the family. In remote coastal areas throughout the region, including Australia, dugongs have a higher social value because they provide food to communities where a nourishing diet is often expensive. In addition, marine food resources strengthen culture and demonstrate a connection with tradition and the sea. Many Indigenous people have extensive knowledge about the biology and behavior of dugongs. Knowledge of the best tidal or weather conditions is vital for a successful hunt. In most hunting communities in Torres Strait, a good dugong hunter is highly regarded7; nonetheless , community elders are concerned that younger hunters seldom receive intensive training and lack hunting skills and the ability to distinguish different types of dugongs (e.g., pregnant from nonpregnant females). However, Indigenous people are keen to combine their spiritual beliefs and extensive knowledge to manage dugongs and other marine resources. In most Pacific countries (Australia, Palau, Vanuatu , Solomon Islands, PNG), dugongs are protected by legislation and/or customary lore and practices. Such is the importance of dugongs that many Indigenous people have...