Gulf of Carpentaria dugong population halves, prompting calls for research and fishing bans
Aerial surveys show dugong numbers in the Gulf of Carpentaria have dropped by roughly 50 % since 2007, leading Indigenous rangers and scientists to demand more monitoring and an end to gill-net fishing.
A joint aerial survey in 2025 by James Cook University, Charles Darwin University and Indigenous ranger teams found the Gulf of Carpentaria’s dugong population fell from about 10,000 individuals in 2007 to roughly 5,000 now, a 50 % reduction. Raw counts dropped from 471 to 305 animals, with Queensland waters seeing the steepest decline—from 231 to 63 dugongs. Researchers also documented large losses of seagrass, the species' primary food source, attributing damage to recent cyclones, heavy rainfall, sediment runoff and higher ocean temperatures.
Recent strandings and signs of starvation, along with suspected impacts from commercial gill-net fishing, have heightened concern, prompting the Northern Territory to plan a full ban by next year. Indigenous groups such as the Li-Anthawirriyarra Sea Ranger Unit and the Wellesley Island Rangers are calling for immediate funding from federal, Queensland and NT authorities to conduct annual monitoring and develop protection measures for both dugongs and their seagrass habitat. Universities echo the need for sustained financial support to identify pressures and craft effective conservation strategies.
Why it matters
The rapid halving of a vulnerable marine species threatens ecosystem health and Indigenous cultural ties.
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