Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Dugongs in Sabah threatened by fish bombs - Malay Mail Kota Kinabalu, Jan 2: -- Fish bombs and nets are driving dugongs away from their habitats off the Sabah coast. A study of areas where dugongs were sighted has found a significant decline in their number. Leela Rajamani, a researcher with Universiti Malaysia Sabah, who is doing a thesis on The Last of the Sirenians: The Status of Dugong and their Seagrass Habitats in Sabah, Malaysia, said her results were based on her survey of and research in several areas. " On Banggi island, dugongs have been caught in shrimp trawler nets, drift nets, bottom nets, gill nets and even traditional fish traps or bagang, " she said. " Some are killed and others are sold. " Fish bombing, common on the east coast, has also taken a toll on the gentle mammals. A survey carried out from July 1999 till September 2000 revealed 216 incidents of illegal fish bombing around Banggi island, north of Kudat. " Although the fishermen are aware that killing or consuming dugong meat is illegal, the meat is still sold in the markets for up to RM400 per dugong, " she said. On Mantanani island, tourists swim with these creatures. Villagers are accustomed to dugongs and do not disturb them. Rajamani proposes that a sanctuary be established to protect the animals, and protection to be extended to the seagrass the dugongs feed on, to keep their population from dwindling. There has been no documented census on the population of dugongs here, but it is believed to be between 200 and 300. They are mostly sighted at Banggi and Mantanani island, and sometimes in Labuk Bay, Brunei Bay and off Tawau. — NST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.