Tribute to Dr. Akoi Kouadio - Sirenian International

Figure 1. Dugong sightings recorded for Manus in 2008 compared with 1974 surveys.
A total of 34 stranded dugongs were reported since the 1980’s. More than half of these were trapped in
nets. Whilst dugongs are hunted in Manus, on average people reported that only 1-2 dugongs are caught in their
village each year. Seventeen percent of people interviewed do not eat dugong because of religious beliefs or
taboos and 35% percent of respondents had eaten dugong in the last year.
Interviews were conducted in 25 locations in 5 coastal areas of Bougainville (Figure 2). A total of 20
adults and 10 calves were reported for the period from Jan-Feb 2008, with a total of 37 adults and 17 calves
reported overall for 2007-2008. There were six dugong strandings reported since 2003. Fifty two percent of
respondents do not eat dugong. Dugongs are not usually consumed by local communities, unless one is found
trapped in a net, or in times of crisis when food is in short supply.
Figure 2. Dugong distribution in Bougainville recorded in the 2008 survey.
Interview surveys were conducted with 98 people from 24 locations in Malaita, Central, Isabel and
Western Provinces of the Solomon Islands in February 2009. A total of 300 dugongs were reported and
respondents estimated having seen 742 in the past 10 years. A total of 56 dugongs were reported stranded from
nets but this was both accidental and intentional netting. Whilst dugong are hunted in 47% of the areas
Sirenews No. 52 7 October 2009