Dugong population halves in Gulf of Carpentaria, sparking debate over gillnet bans

Aerial counts carried out by teams from James Cook and Charles Darwin universities in partnership with Indigenous ranger groups revealed that dugong abundance in the Gulf of Carpentaria has fallen from roughly 10,000 in 2007 to about 5,000 in 2025, a 50 % reduction. The decline is most marked in Queensland waters, whereas numbers in the Northern Territory appear stable. Stakeholders—including Roper Gulf Regional Council mayor Tony Jack, traditional owners and commercial fishers—are demanding inquiries into possible causes such as illegal hunting, loss of seagrass meadows, boat strikes and climate-related changes.

Queensland Seafood Industry Association chief David Bobberman and mackerel fisherman Tiger Davey argue that gillnets are not the main culprit, while others call for an immediate ban. State and federal authorities have pledged funding for additional research, habitat protection like the expansion of Limmen Bight Marine Park, and ongoing monitoring of dugong populations.