Progress of the Dugong & Seagrass Conservation Project in Sri Lanka 3rd Executive Project Steering Committee meeting 21-23 November, 2017 Trang, Thailand

Past, present and future of dugong and seagrass conservation in Sri Lanka Dugongs: limited information generated in 2008, 2013 & 2014 Seagrass: Limited information generated in 1991 & 2010 Communities: community-based monitoring/ management structures exists but not integrating dugongs Incentives: No incentives, no public subsidies for community-based conservation Policies: Dugong MoU signed, Dugong had been listed as strictly protected mammal under FFPO Baseline in 2015 Dugongs: maps/ data on distribution, threats, Sensitive areas developed Seagrass: maps/ data on composition, distribution and abundancy available Policies: draft recommendations to policies on integrating dugongs and seagrasses Communities: 03 community conservation groups formed and recognized 06 incentives models introduced in 6 communities, involving local women; draft model of a public subsidy for community-based management Progress by 2017 Dugongs: national database managed by the DWC, status identified and communicated Seagrass: national database and provisioning ecosystem services valuation assessed Policies: information on dugongs and seagrass feed 2 sectoral policies on Wildlife and Fisheries Communities: 03 community conservation groups participate in monitoring/ management of dugong sensitive areas Incentives: 3 incentives models expanding to recognized community conservation groups Targets for 2018

Results from research on Dugong and Seagrass Main dugong research questions addressed by the Project Filling Information gaps on the status/distribution of dugongs and seagrass beds Assess key threats on dugongs and seagrass beds Identification of dugong sensitive areas Methods adopted by Project Dugong: Areal survey using drones, Using Sonar, Semi-structured questioner survey and community Interviews Seagrass: Mapping in shallow areas – using satellite imagers Mapping Deeper areas – Areas being identified with GPS coordinates survey is continuing Number of sites and total size in hectares of the research area for dugongs > 200sqkm surveyed Seagrass Map seagrass beds in shallow areas 05 sites in shallow area for detailed study 9 seagrass species – new sp; Halophila stipulacea how protection has been/ is/ is to be insured

Results from research on Dugong and Seagrass Status of dugong population in the research area in 2015 and today Not Exact Figures but this could be a same population moving in Indian waters Dugong sensitive areas identified Waleadu, South Bar and Pallimunei Number of sightings of dugongs since 2015 Alive – 2 Direct sighting, 04 sighting from fishermen, 2 possible feeding trails Dead – 06 including 01 mother and calf Top 3 threats to dugongs and follow up actions Uncontrolled bottom trawling: Bilateral discussion, Awareness, and Joint patrolling and enforcement Gillnets: Policy to control gillnets, Incentives and new income, Community involvement for monitoring Blast fishing: Joint patrolling and enforcement 3 key dugong research results from the Project Mapped 03 Dugong sensitive sites Data base developed for biomass distribution of seagrasses in shallow areas Main threat to the dugong is entangle with Gill Nets as by catch

Results from research on Dugong and Seagrass Who/ how hosts the data and how, with whom has been dugong data shared Department of Wildlife Conservation hosts the data in digital format and reports & publication Data will be shared on request basis Research work to be carried out by the Project until 2018 and key research deliverables Socio economic survey to assess the effect on local communities when declare protected areas Seagrass area Mapping should be conducted in deeper areas Dugong and seagrass monitoring will be continued Dugong research needs that have not been addressed by the Project in your country so far. Will the Project address these by 2018? If not, what is the plan on addressing these needs. Population estimate and their movements to be assessed. This will not be covered by the project. Funds has to be sought

Project policy response to dugong & seagrass conservation needs in Sri Lanka The most important policy needs of dugong & seagrass conservation identified in 2015; Fishing in dugong sensitive areas Marine biodiversity Key policy gaps to effective dugong & seagrass conservation identified by 2017 Regulations to control fishing in sensitive areas Inter sectoral coordination 3 key results achieved by the Project by 2017 to address the identified policy needs and gaps Dugong conservation management plan is being developed by main stake holders including local communities National Steering Committee (NSC) How information generated by the Project has been used to inform decision-making Through NSC How sustainability of the National Facilitating Committee developed under the Project will be ensured after the end of the project NSC will be functioned as consultative body. Policy work under the Project until 2018 Regulations to be incorporated in the fishing policy Marine conservation action plan in place

Community-based stewardship of dugongs and their seagrass habitats Number of Project sites of community work 06 (Anawasala, Kandakkuliya, Palliwasathurai, Palakuda, Serakkuliya and Thirikkapallama) Number of sites by 2017 Three new sites included (Vidataltivu, Arippu and Kandakuliya) Most common threats within the Project sites that the Project is trying to address Heavy fishing pressure Using harmful nets Most common community needs that dugong and seagrass conservation have to be addressed Alternative Income Awareness Key results from the Project that address the most common threats Women involvement increased for income generation Attitudinal changes towards conservation

Education & Awareness about dugongs and seagrass 3 Key target audiences and needs of education and awareness under the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project Fishing community School children National and local government officials 3 most influential results from education & awareness by the Project in your country, including some statistics – Assessment of perceptions of fishers on dugong and seagrass conservation Booklet, Broacher, poster, bags and short film. National and regional level awareness meeting Effectiveness and sustainability of education & awareness activities Dugong and Seagrass conservation will include to the training and awareness plan of the DWC Education and awareness work of the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project until 2018 and 2 key deliverables National seminar on advocacy of Dugong and Seagrass conservation TV program Paper notice Local level awareness programme 2 Education and awareness needs of dugong/ seagrass conservation that have not been addressed by the Project Regional workshop on experience sharing will be held in 2018. Founds will sought

Project indicator Year 2015 Year 2017 1. Total area of seagrass (key areas for dugongs) under improved conservation management (Marine protected areas) 30669 ha 01 Marine protected area 54488 ha 03 Marine protected areas 2. METT scores in targeted protected areas (MPAs, LMMAs, others) in national programmes 79 146 3. Use of gill nets (beach seines), fixed fish traps and other damaging methods) by fishermen (which result in incidental dugong mortality) reduced 03 dead dugongs 4. Community engagement in management (CBM) for dugong conservation in selected priority target areas (LMMAs, other seagrass protection zones, co-management of MPAs) 0 community members trained 0 locals involved in management of LMMA 03 locals community groups selected in LMMAs management 5. Number of community-based conservation/ monitoring systems established and functioning for dugong and seagrass) in priority target areas 0 community-based conservation systems in 1 MPA 03 community based conservation system established 6. Number and uptake of incentive mechanisms (ie. market-based, social, cultural, religious) and management tools linking sustainable fishing practices and adoption of best practice (see also Indicator 3) 0 incentives 0 women participation 7 types of incentives introduced in 6 local communities, engaging 230 people 70% of them women 7. Availability and uptake of conservation management information (digital maps of dugong and seagrass distribution & status; ecosystem services valuation data; pilot studies – e.g. assessment of Blue Carbon potential) Dugong presence/absence, Threats Limited seagrass data Maps seagrass across 1800 ha Dugong sensitive areas identified Dugong sighting assessed 8. Progress on implementation of national and regional Strategies/ Action Plans for dugong and seagrass conservation No Dugong National Plan of Actions Dugong management plan being developed Marine sector conservation plan developed 9. Incorporation of dugong protection and dugong/ seagrass conservation in other sectors (e.g. fisheries, coastal zone management & regulations) No policy gap analysis Policy gap analysis Policy recommendations to 2 sectors

Sri Lanka lessons learned NSC is a platform to discuss marine sector issues & proposals and to transfer them in to a national policy Nothing wrong but direct Incentives may not sufficient to reduce the fishing pressure. Large number of people to be engaged. Continuous monitoring and engagement to be maintained to achieve objectives. Groups can be mobilized by providing training on conservation related activities while exposing them for new opportunities such as tourism, Monitoring and reporting, Awareness activities, etc:

Next steps Activity Present status Target deliverables Research Mapping seagrass beds in deep areas completed Locations Identified with GPS coordinates Completed Seagrass map Dugong data base completed Database developed and collecting data Database with all information Socio economic survey completed Areas selected and survey planned Survey report Community Involvement Community Conservation Groups (CCG) trained and mobilized 03 Community conservation groups formed and recognized Well functioned community conservation groups Policy responses Dugong conservation management plan completed Draft management plan Plan completed and accepted Dugong Conservation Coordination Center (DCCC) improved Center established with limited facilities Well equipped DCCC Dugong and seagrass conservation incorporated to the national policies Policy gaps analyzed and policy need assessed Policy recognized and regulations made Declare dugong sensitive areas as protected areas Areas Identified Declaration and fishing activities controlled Education & awareness National seminar on advocacy of Dugong and seagrass conservation Arrangement made to conduct the seminar on 07th December 2017 National level publicity Printed materials translated to local language Materials available in English and Sinhala some are in Tamil All materials are in three languages