dugongs in palau - C3

The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) development has recently restarted
after being stalled for over a year. The results of this project will feed into that planning
process.
• Criteria for considering the impacts of proposed development projects need to be developed and
all relevant project Environmental Impact Statements must address potential impacts on dugong
habitat, as required by RPPL No. 6-28.
• Koror State should consider controls on boat traffic speed in and outside Ngel Channel (adjacent
to Ngedererrak Reef).
Dugong Life History, Status and Management
6.
The responsibility for dugong research, assessments and management should be progressively
transferred to the Bureau of Marine Resources.
• As the capacity of the BMR’s current turtle project, and proposed crocodile project are developed,
these projects (turtle, crocodile) should be combined and a dugong component added, and the
projects should be progressively integrated into a “vulnerable species” program. Support
(personnel, training and funding) will need to be provided to BMR.
• A coordinating committee, with representatives from the key national and state government
agencies and the NGOs, should be established to coordinate activities related to dugongs, turtles,
and crocodiles. BMR should be the secretariat for this committee.
7. Information on dugong distributions and status should be continued.
(Responsible agency: Bureau of Marine Resources, with support from Palau Conservation Society)
• The incidental sightings system should be continued and progressively transferred to the Bureau
of Marine Resources. The incidental sightings form is currently under review and may require
revising as soon as the review is completed.
• Future aerial surveys should be undertaken, but limited to a maximum of once every tens years
(next survey in 2013), and only if specific funding is identified for the surveys that does not
detract from other higher priority conservation activities. The methods should be as close as
possible to those undertaken in 1991, 1998, and 2003.
8. Efforts should continue to collect information from dugong necropsies.
(Responsible agency: Bureau of Marine Resources, with support from Division of Fish and Wildlife
Protection and Palau Conservation Society)
• Morphological measurements, stomach and DNA samples should be collected from all dead
dugongs. When and wherever possible, reproductive organs should be removed from carcasses
and sent for analysis (currently James Cook University is willing to accept samples for analysis).
• Training of BMR staff, and supporting agencies, will be required, as there are currently very few
people in Palau with the knowledge required to conduct dugong necropsies.
35