Source: The post “Threats to Indian Sea Cows” has been created, based on “Threats to Indian Sea Cows” published in “Indian Express” on 19 November 2025. Threats to Indian Sea Cows.
UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper 3- Environment
Context: Dugongs (Dugong dugon), also known as sea cows, are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. A recent IUCN report has highlighted that India’s dugong populations, found primarily in the Gulf of Mannar–Palk Bay, the Gulf of Kutch, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, face severe risks due to human-induced pressures.
Significance of Dugongs
- Dugongs play a vital role in maintaining the health of seagrass ecosystems, which are crucial habitats for fish, invertebrates, and carbon storage.
- Their grazing activity helps keep seagrass meadows healthy by preventing overgrowth and promoting nutrient recycling.
- Seagrass ecosystems where dugongs graze can contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, acting as major “blue carbon” sinks.
- Healthy seagrass habitats support commercially important fisheries, contributing up to ₹2 crore per year in additional fish production.
- Dugongs serve as an indicator species for assessing the ecological health of shallow coastal waters.
Why Are Dugongs in India at Risk?
- Rapid decline in population: Once abundant, the population has drastically reduced; estimates vary between 250–450 individuals, with some experts suggesting even lower numbers. Their elusive nature and cloudy, shallow waters make accurate surveys difficult, complicating conservation.
- Degradation of coastal habitats: Seagrass meadows are shrinking due to coastal development, sedimentation, and pollution. Habitat loss directly reduces their food availability and safe nursing grounds.
- Accidental entanglement in fishing nets: Breakdown of traditional, regulated fishing methods increases bycatch incidences. High mortality is linked to gillnets and other fishing gear, especially in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
- Pollution and toxic contamination: Research from Marine Pollution Bulletin found high concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead in dugong tissues. These pollutants enter the sea through industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage, eventually settling in seagrass beds. Toxic accumulation weakens vital organs like the liver and kidneys, increasing mortality and reducing reproductive success.
- Slow reproductive rate: A female dugong gives birth only once in several years. Slow breeding makes population recovery extremely difficult once numbers decline.
Government Measures Taken
- In 2010, the MoEFCC constituted a Task Force for Conservation of Dugongs to assess threats.
- India launched the National Dugong Recovery Programme, in partnership with Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- The Dugong Conservation Reserve was established in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu (2022) to protect seagrass meadows and create secure habitats.
- Awareness campaigns and research collaborations have been initiated to monitor dugong distribution and mortality.
Challenges in Conservation
- Dugongs inhabit remote, cloudy, and shallow waters where surveys are unreliable, making population management difficult.
- Coastal populations depend heavily on fishing for livelihood, creating conflict between conservation goals and economic needs.
- Enforcement of no-fishing zones or restrictions is weak in ecologically sensitive maritime areas.
- Marine pollution continues unabated due to limited monitoring and inadequate treatment of industrial and municipal waste.
- Long-term seagrass restoration requires sustained funding and coordination between multiple agencies.
Way Forward
- Strengthening seagrass conservation through large-scale mapping, restoration, and strict regulation of coastal development.
- Reducing bycatch by promoting dugong-safe fishing gear, seasonal closures, and community-based marine conservation models.
- Controlling marine pollution via stricter enforcement of effluent discharge norms, expansion of sewage treatment, and monitoring toxic metal levels.
- Enhancing scientific monitoring using satellite tracking, drones, and acoustic methods for better population estimation.
- Community participation by incentivising fisherfolk to adopt sustainable practices and developing alternative livelihoods.
- Regional cooperation with Sri Lanka and Southeast Asian countries, given the migratory nature of coastal marine fauna.
- Strengthening protected areas through expansion of Dugong Conservation Reserves in other habitats like the Gulf of Kutch and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Conclusion: Dugongs are essential to the ecological health of India’s coastal ecosystems, but they face severe threats from habitat degradation, overfishing, pollution, and slow reproductive rates. Strengthening seagrass conservation, reducing anthropogenic pressures, and improving scientific monitoring can ensure the survival of these gentle “gardeners of the sea.”
Question: Why are dugongs declining in India, and what measures are needed to ensure their long-term conservation?
