The New-Caledonian Dugong action plan - Summary of dugong status, trends and threats in New-Caledonia and summary of recent research, The Dugong ...
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The New-Caledonian
Dugong action plan
Summary of dugong status, trends and threats in
New-Caledonia and summary of recent research,
Workshop on the conservation of dugong and seagrass
4-8 March 2018
Munda Island – Salomon Islands
Seagrasses in New-Caledonia : a summary of information 1 state-of-art report about seagrasses in French overseas territories The most representative marine coastal habitat 400 km2 (0 - 5m) in New-Caledonia (one shallow seagrasses map) A non-uniform seagrasses distribution Few data regarding seagrasses health status, some very local monitoring Some time-series aerial photography but very hard to distinguish spatial-temporal variations from human impacts
Dugong in New-Caledonia : a summary of information A decline of the population Each individual dugong matters to maintain the population alive Listed as vulnerable at a global scale on the IUCN Red List Ranking system (Marsh, 2008). No local IUCN status (request for review if we do a new aerial survey) 4 main human threats, 1 action plan
A few words of introduction On behalf of the scientific-technical representatives of the New-Caledonian Dugong action plan, I would like to thank you for the opportunity given to New- Caledonia to be together and share each others‘ experiences regarding dugong conservation. I would like to thank the Solomon Islands Government, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and the CMS dugong secretariat for welcoming us to this workshop.
A few words about New Caledonia
New Caledonia : a French overseas
territory
A special status and a federal
organisation :
A local government
Three provinces : south,
north, Loyalty islands, each
with its own environmental
codes.
A low density of population (~ 13
inh. / km2). > 250 000 inh. / 20 000
km2
A few words about New Caledonia
An exceptional biodiversity
The French Pacific Ocean archipelago of New Caledonia is one
of the three most extensive reef systems in the world.
The Lagoons of New Caledonia feature an exceptional
diversity of coral and fish species and a continuum of habitats
from mangroves to seagrasses with the world’s most diverse
concentration of reef structures.
They display intact ecosystems, with healthy populations of
large predators, and a great number and diversity of big fish.
They provide habitat to a number of emblematic or
threatened marine species such as turtles, whales or dugongs
(UNESCO, 2008).
The New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
The dugong (Dugong dugon), belongs to the order of
Sirenia, one of the three mammalian orders most at New-Caledonia has a big responsibility for
risk of extinction (Purvis et al., 2000). dugong conservation.
This herbivorous marine mammal is the only extant
species of the family Dugongidae and it is listed as
vulnerable at a global scale on the IUCN Red List
Ranking system (Marsh, 2008).
The dugong population of New Caledonia is one the
largest in the world but nonetheless fragile.
Since 2010, a dugong protection plan has
The dugong was explicitly mentioned in the recent been implemented.
inscription of 6 areas of the New Caledonian lagoons
on the UNESCO World Heritage list (UNESCO, 2009)The New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
Who are we ? A Technical Committee
Coordinator : the New-Caledonian Conservatory of
natural areas
Leaders : south and north provinces, Service of the
French Ministry of Environment, French biodiversity
Agency, WWF, Institute of Research for Development,
Opérations Cétacées, a new-Caledonian association for
marine mammals, The aquarium of Nouméa
Associate expert : Murdoch UniversityThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
How we work together?
Collective decisions
Financial support Provide skills and
expertise
Brainstorming Implement actions
Strategic thinking, planningThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
The overall objectives
IMPROVE OUR EVALUATION
RAISE AWARENESS PROTECT
KNOWLEDGE of management measuresThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
What has been done so far ?
2010 – 2017 : 19 completed studies
IMPROVE OUR State-of-the-art knowledge
KNOWLEDGE Strategic plan to improve knowledge
Severals surveys
Genetic population studies
Attaching diving and satellite devices (satellite telemetry)
Dugong aerial surveys
Thesis to synthesize and analyze existing findingsThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
Dugong : an emblem of respect and care of marine wildlife in the territory
Internship “ dugong, culture and society” has confirmed the
high cultural value to the indigenous people (Melanesian and
New Caledonian communities with European origin) of New
Caledonia (traditional celebrate, wedding, funeral but also as
an important source of food).
Survey of fishers has confirmed accidental captures in fishing
nets, especially gillnets. Surveys
Survey of the pressures of nautical activities has confirmed
collision occur and often in highly frequented areas.
Reports available in FrenchThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
A vulnerable population
Isolated geographically from other dugong populations Genetic Study
Genetically isolated from Australian population
A lower genetic diversity compared to Australian population
Low diversity
Hight risk of consanguinity
No migration
More vulnerable to changes, diseases, human threats
Isolation
Remain to study : potential genetic links with Vanuatu and
Salomon dugong population
Reports available in FrenchThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
Behaviour and movement
satellite telemetry
Capable of swimming up to hundreds of kilometers in few days
Or can stay several months in the same little bay
Low speed but can move at 10 to 12 knots through one kilometer
Can stay under water during 2 and 4 minutes average (maximum 8 minutes) / 12 dives
per hourThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
Dugong relative abundance and density
6 aerial surveys :
dugong aerial surveys
1 single baseline aerial survey in 2003 estimated a
population of 2026 (+/- 553 s.e.) individuals.
A second, similar survey in 2008 produced a lower
estimate of 606 (+/- 200 s.e.) individuals
Four additional surveys were conducted : cool (June)
and warm (November) seasons of 2011 and 201224 000 km2
24 000 km2
24 000 km2 2
km
24 000
Results
Dugong relative abundance and density
population : 700 – 800 individuals
relatively stable between 2008 and 2012
1 individual each 100 km2 (lagoon : 24 000 Km2)
mainly on the west and northeast coast of the main
island
Cleguer, Christophe & Fuentes, Mariana & Everingham, Yvette & Hagihara, Rie & Hamann, Mark & Payri, Claude & Marsh, Helene & Garrigue,
Claire. (2017). Drivers of change in the relative abundance of dugongs in New Caledonia. Wildlife Research. 44. 10.1071/WR16133.The New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
Thesis to synthesize and analyze existing findings
Cleguer C. 2015. Informing dugong conservation at Thesis
several spatial and temporal scales in New Caledonia.
Thèse de doctorat JCU-UPMC-IRD. 168 p + annexes
Cleguer C. 2015. Conservation du dugong en Nouvelle-
Calédonie : une étude à plusieurs échelles spatio-
temporelles. Synthèse finale de la thèse de doctorat.
168 p. + AnnexesThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
RAISE AWARENESS Media Raise public awareness
among boaters
Stand/ awareness awareness campaigns
booth in schoolsThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
Threats to the species have not clearly been assessed
PROTECT Poaching Collision
Accidental captures in Habitat degradation
fishing netsThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
Each individual dugong matters to maintain the population alive
Shark
Biological event
Accidental captures in fishing nets
Natural event
31% Attempt to poaching
15 cases
Out of 49
strandings
surveyed
Unknown causes 43%
Collisions
Alive
Information from Opération Cétacés.The New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
Dugong hunting is prohibited in New-Caledonia
Regulations : implemented in 2004 in the South Province and in 2006
in the North Province
PROTECT
Inspections by field rangers, cops and customs are limitedThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
The associated penalties
North and South Provinces
Violations :
Confiscation of the equipment
Hunting, catch, mutilation, meat
consumption, the sale and Fine : from 1 000 000 XPF
purchase, deliberate disturbance.
prison sentence possible
South province
50 m
Approach within 50 metres is Fine : 90 000 XPF
prohibitedThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
By inducing citizens to report
Call 16 (Maritime Rescue
Coordination Center) to
declare dead dugong or
PROTECT dugong in danger
Report in a mobilphone
application each dugong
seen or report in an online
reporting sheetThe New-Caledonia Dugong action plan
What our main actions in 2018?
IMPROVE OUR
KNOWLEDGE PROTECT BY 2018 – 2019 :
RAISING
Meet the local population to raise awareness about poaching
AWARENESS and try to stop it
Looking for extra fundings (60 000€/ 95 000 AUD/ 74 000 USD /
POPULATION 570 000 SBD) to do :
MONITORING
A new Dugong aerial survey
A thesis to better understand poaching activitiesOur thanks The New-Caledonian Dugong action plan stakeholders are very honoured by the SPREP proposition to become a technical leader in the region. We are very grateful to receive recognition of the New- Caledonian expertise built on a strong collaboration with Australia for several years. The scientific-technical representatives of the New-Caledonian Dugong action plan are ready to consider a collaborative relationships among our territories and I will be very pleased to pass on any requests for technical cooperation to the New- Caledonian Dugong action plan stakeholders.
Thank you for your attention Contact us : Laure LUNEAU, the New-Caledonian Dugong action plan coordinator cmissionppm@cen.nc
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