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

2. 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.

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Thank you Michael Donoghue Threatened and Migratory Species Adviser
Warren Lee Long
Coastal and Marine Adviser
Akiko Hamada-Ano
Coastal and Marine Specialist