Environment Ministry aims to increase dugong numbers by 50% in 10 years

 

(Photo) Tender, loving care: Mariam being cared for at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre on Libong island, Trang province/AFP

 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment aims to increase the population of dugong in Thailand’s waters by 50%, from approximately 250, in the next ten years, said Mr. Pinsak Suraswadi, deputy director-general of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, on Monday.

 

The effort will be applied to areas other than Libong Island in the southern province of Trang, which is home to most of the dugongs, such as Phra Thong Island in Phang-nga province, Si Boya Island in Krabi province, Lidee and Sarai Islands in Satun province, Kood, Mark and Kradan Islands in the eastern province of Trat, Kung Krabane bay in Chanthaburi, the Prasae estuary in Rayong province, Sattahip bay in Rayong and Pattani bay in Pattani province.

 

Mr. Pinsak said that the efforts to increase the population of dugongs would be jointly undertaken by officials and communities, with a plan to ban the use of fishing gear which poses a threat to endangered marine animals, including dugongs, in order to reduce the fatality rates from such fishing gear. They also plan to preserve sea grass, the main source of food for dugongs.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/environment-ministry-aims-to-increase-dugong-numbers-by-50-in-10-years/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-08-20

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She is obviously attempting the famous Thai stimulus package ..

Judging by some of other ministries ideas that have appeared recently, I assume they will increase the numbers by cutting fifty-percent of them in half.