1. Progress of the Dugong & Seagrass Conservation Project in Sri Lanka 3rd Executive Project Steering Committee meeting November, Trang, Thailand

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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 Founds will sought

10. 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

11. 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:

12. 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