Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Highlights from Pacific Island States Akiko Hamada-Ano Coastal and Marine Management Specialist 23rd November 2017

SPREP Members We represent on behalf of 21 Pacific Island States and Territories and we have 5 Metropolitan Members (Australia, France, NZ, UK, USA) . Australia is a member of CMS and CITES, and France represents the interests of French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis et Futuna in international conventions such as CMS and CITES. Spanning approximately 38 million square kilometres, represents 10% of the planet’s ocean surface The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has been charged by the governments and administrations of the Pacific region with the protection and sustainable development of the region's environment. We are one of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) Agencies.

Dugong Range States New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands. –IUCN Redlist Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu – Dugong MoU

Pressures Population trend for dugongs: declining Based on SPREP’s State of Conservation in Oceania Regional Report 2013: Mean threat levels (with standard error bars) to dugong populations in New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu with 0 (data deficient), 1 (low), 2 (medium) and 3 (high) (based on data from IUCN Red List, 2008; Dugong Status and Action Plans for Countries and Territories, 2002). Human harvest is the major threat to dugong populations in the Pacific Islands. Population trend for dugongs: declining

Region-wide Efforts Dugong Action Plan 2018-2022 Themes: Threat Reduction Research and Monitoring Capacity Building and Collaboration Management Information, Awareness/Education and Communication. Interactions with Dugongs Pacific Year of the Dugong 2011 Community management National guidance and leadership Strengthening Pacific conservation partnership Guide for SPREP Members to promote conservation of threatened species in their own EEZs – part of broader Marine Species Programme. 1a. Reduce direct and indirect threats to dugong populations, including seagrass habitat loss 2a. Improve our understanding of dugong populations and habitats through research and monitoring. 3a. Build in-country capacity to strengthen dugong conservation. 3b. Enhance national, regional and international collaboration. 4a. Improving protection of dugongs through enforcement and compliance with legal frameworks and national action plans. 4b. Recognize the value of traditional knowledge, traditional resource management and customary marine tenure. 5a. Raise awareness and share information about the importance of dugongs and their habitats 6a. Encourage best international practice related to dugong interactions. Dugong Workshop in Solomon Islands Proposed for February 2018 Gift from Palau Government to SPREP

Seagrass Island States Many Pacific islands States are surrounded by reef flats, often with extensive seagrass habitat. Islands in the east of the region (Polynesia) have less seagrass abundance and diversity than those in the west (ie, seagrass abundance and diversity decrease as you go further eastwards from Melanesia to Polynesia). However, much work remains to be done to map seagrass in many PI States. Orange Melanesia Purple Micronesia Green Polynesia The extent of seagrasses in the Pacific islands appears to be stable: the tropical Indo-Pacific region has widespread and abundant seagrass beds, and a high number of seagrass species, including several endemic species.

No. of species of seagrass Seagrass as % of land area Melanesia Country Total land area (km2) No. of species of seagrass Seagrass area (km2) Seagrass as % of land area Fiji 18,272 6 16.5a 0.01 New Caledonia 19,100 11 936 5.00 Papua New Guinea 462,243 13 117.2 0.03 Solomon Islands 27,556 10 66.3 0.24 Vanuatu 11,880 ?a ? a: mapping in progress at time of report (Waycott et al 2011) Fiji: “the total area of seagrass meadows in Fiji is unknown and no broad scale mapping has been conducted”. several particularly important seagrass areas based on statements by government personnel and anecdotal evidence and indicate a significant gap of reliable data. Vanuatu: The total area and community composition of seagrass meadows in Vanuatu is unknown. Broad-scale mapping has not been undertaken, but a number of localised studies have been conducted since the 1930s. A recent study by the Global Environmental Facility’s Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project coordinated community-based monitoring for subsequent hotspot mapping across Vanuatu, and a new Commonwealth Marine Economies programme will develop carbon assessment methodologies using seagrass meadows

No. of species of seagrass Seagrass as % of land area Micronesia Country Total land area (km2) No. of species of seagrass Seagrass area (km2) Seagrass as % of land area Federated States of Micronesia 700 10 44 6.29 Guam 541 3 31 5.73 Kiribati 690 2** ?b   Marshall Islands 112 Northern Mariana Islands 478 4 6.7 1.40 Palau 494 11 80 16.19 Kiribati: Marshall Islands: **: based on observations by P Anderson b: not mapped (Waycott et al 2011)

No. of species of seagrass Seagrass as % of land area Polynesia Country Total land area (km2) No. of species of seagrass Seagrass area (km2) Seagrass as % of land area American Samoa 197 4 ?c   French Polynesia 3521 2 28.7 0.82 Samoa 2935 5 ?b Tonga 699 Wallis and Futuna 255 24.3 17.00 b: not mapped c: Seagrass not encountered during September 2002 and May 2003 surveys of Tutuila, Manu Group, Rose Atoll and Swains Island (Analytical laboratories of Hawaii 2004) (Waycott et al 2011) Date confidence was assessed as Medium – Low. Estimates of recent changes in seagrass habitats across the tropical Pacific are difficult to make because (1) seagrass meadows are known to fluctuate seasonally, and change from year to year; and (2) maps of the distribution of seagrass area and biomass are either limited or imprecise. Detailed information on seagrass health is lacking for most Oceania countries and territories.

Pressures in the Pacific Leading threats in the Pacific are land-based: Watershed logging Mining Coastal development Agriculture Heat Stress: Estimated 5-30% loss by year 2035, highest losses projected in Northern Mariana Islands and Tonga. However, the health and extent of seagrass beds are observed to be primarily affected by changes in water clarity and nutrient availability, which are frequently reduced by coastal development in heavily populated areas, and by deforestation upstream. Many of the leading threats to coastal seagrass in the Oceania region are land based, such as watershed logging, mining, coastal development and agriculture, which can all lead to increased water turbidity. Physical disturbance of seagrass beds by cyclones rank in the top six threats for the Indo-Pacific region (Coles et al 2012). The amount of seagrass that is likely to be lost due to climate change varies depending on the emission scenario / climate projection used, but it is estimated that between 5 – 30 percent loss is possible across the region by the year 2035, with highest losses projected for Northern Marinara Islands and Tonga. The extent of seagrasses in the Pacific islands appears to be stable: the tropical Indo-Pacific region has widespread and abundant seagrass beds, and a high number of seagrass species, including several endemic species. The extent of seagrasses in the Pacific islands appears to be stable: the tropical Indo-Pacific region has widespread and abundant seagrass beds, and a high number of seagrass species, including several endemic species.

Pacific Challenges for Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Lack of data and information Limited information exchange Absence and lack of ongoing and long term research Limited public awareness Limited in-country skills/capacity Limited national management mechanisms Lack of resources (human and financial) Hunting for direct consumption is the legal right of traditional inhabitants and sustainable hunting levels need to be agreed. Dugongs are vulnerable to anthropogenic influences on seagrass beds which are restricted to coastal habitats populated by humans. As dugongs depend on seagrasses, any threats to these ecosystems can indirectly impact dugong populations. Although detailed data is available for some countries, many have no or extremely limited data on the location or state of their seagrass beds. Therefore, Governments and organizations working in the region should continue to work together, in order to not only improve our knowledge on the status, extent and trends of seagrasses, but to collaboratively share research findings and improve governance efforts. By doing so, these actions have the potential to maintain the current stable status of seagrass beds in the region.

Application to Dugong Conservation Seagrass Projects and Application to Dugong Conservation Partnered Projects: Marine spatial planning: Tonga, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and Kiribati Resource Mapping: all countries ridge to reef management National and island scale ecosystem based adaptation In partner with CMEP: Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji Training in seagrass mapping & monitoring: Vanuatu SPREP is a founding partner on the INtenational Partnership for Blue Carbon.   We are using this partnership to assist countries to assess their BC assets, and importantly to protect and conserve BC habitats as part of their national ecosystem-based adaptations and contributions to NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) MACBIO: The project aims to support and strengthen national efforts on biodiversity conservation in marine and coastal areas. It is funded by Germany's Ministry of Environment under its International Climate Initiative The UK is commencing a Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme with Commonwealth small island states in the Pacific, Caribbean and Indian Oceans. Michele Devlin in CEFAS is leading a project to map and model coastal habitats and water quality – firstly at locations in Vanuatu and then Solomon Islands and Fiji. International Climate Initiative (IKI): 9 million (GIZ and SPREP) Mid 2018 – 2023. 6 million in blue carbon capacity building in the Pacific. Wide spread awareness of the importance of seagrass has been more possible due to the promotion of Blue Carbon habitats. Proposed Projects: Seagrass and mangrove (Blue Carbon) mapping and audits in PNG, SI, VU, FJ. Assisting conservation policy and action.

Thank you Michael Donoghue Threatened and Migratory Species Adviser michaeld@sprep.org Warren Lee Long Coastal and Marine Adviser warrenl@sprep.org Akiko Hamada-Ano Coastal and Marine Specialist akikoh.ext@sprep.org