Why the Gulf of Carpentaria dugong numbers fell by half

Aerial surveys carried out in 2025 by a team from James Cook University, Charles Darwin University and Indigenous ranger groups showed that the estimated number of dugongs in the Gulf fell from about 10,000 in 2007 to roughly 5,000 now. The raw counts dropped from 471 individuals in 2007 to 305 in 2025, according to Dr Christophe Cleguer, a researcher at James Cook University.

The biggest regional loss was recorded in Queensland waters, where the raw count fell from 231 dugongs in 2007 to just 63 in 2025, Dr Cleguer said.

At the same time, the scientists documented a sharp decline in the seagrass meadows that dugongs rely on for food. JCU marine scientist Alex Carter explained that a series of cyclones, heavy floods, strong winds and the resulting increase in suspended sediment have smothered the plants, while rising ocean temperatures have further stressed the habitat.

The research partners also suspect that commercial gill‑net fishing is adding pressure on the already stressed population. Parts of the Gulf have already introduced bans on gill‑netting, and the Northern Territory has pledged a total ban by the end of next year.

Indigenous ranger groups, working together with James Cook University and Charles Darwin University, have filled an 18‑year gap in monitoring, but they say more regular surveys and stronger protection measures are needed to stop the decline and give the dugongs a chance to recover.

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