National —
On November 12th, 2024, Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat, the Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, met with experts to address the critical situation of dugong strandings and declining seagrass beds.
The meeting highlighted seven key areas for urgent action: Ranong, Western Phang Nga, Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, Krabi, Trang, and Satun.
Jatuporn noted the severe deterioration of seagrass beds, the main food source for dugongs, caused by climate change. This has led to food shortages, resulting in underweight dugongs and migrations to the southern Andaman, particularly in Phang Nga Bay.
In response, authorities outlined an emergency plan to boost dugong food supplies and protect the most vulnerable individuals in their natural habitat. Phang Nga Bay and Trang will be pilot zones, where dugong protection areas will be designated, according to Jatuporn.
The plan includes three key measures to increase food for dugongs: Planting seagrass onshore to provide additional food, importing seagrass, and protecting natural seagrass zones to foster quicker growth.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources will lead this initiative, working closely with national parks and provincial authorities to secure emergency funding and the necessary resources for dugong monitoring.
Public awareness campaigns will also be conducted to engage local communities in dugong conservation efforts.
