DOHA: Institutions in Qatar have stepped up efforts to protect and conserve dugongs — marine animals that have historical importance to Qatari society.
Qatar University (QU) in collaboration with ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) and Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) hosted a workshop to discuss the dugong population, their global status, and current and future strategies for their conservation.
Qatar is home to the largest population of dugongs outside Australia. The large, herbivorous mammals consume sea grass and can reach lengths of over three meters. They weigh more than 400kg and live up to 60 years.
Dugongs have a cultural and economic importance to Qataris, having been used as an economic and food resource in the Arabian Gulf for more than 7,500 years.
Though long-living, dugongs have a low reproductive output. They are listed as vulnerable to extinction by International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Dugongs in Qatar face challenges, including incidental fishing and habitat degradation.
Limited research has been conducted on Qatari dugongs and the tri-party initiative aims to develop the scientific understanding to provide decisions for their protection and conservation.
The extreme marine and physical environment of the Arabian Gulf, as well as the northern limit of dugong distribution may suggest that their life history will differ from those in Australia.
The workshop followed the signing of an agreement in July by the three parties to further environmental research and marine mammal initiatives relevant to Qatar.
Close to 40 environmental regulators and academics, from environment research, management and conservation institutes, and other stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, participated in the discussion. Deliberations focused on strategies and recommendations for dugong conservation as well as current and future collaborative opportunities.
The Peninsula
