The bill, also known as the “Dugong Protection Act”, was intended to provide increased protection for the extremely vulnerable population of dugongs in Palau.
The bill states that the introduction and passage of the measure was prompted by the unnatural death of four dugongs in a period of a few months at the beginning of this year.
“The population is small enough, that the destruction of even four dugongs can tip the population towards extinction,” the bill points out.
It is estimated that there are only around 200 dugongs in the entire island republic. Palau’s dugong population is the most isolated in the world. Wildlife experts said that when the population no longer survives, there will not be any more dugongs in Palau.
“This is a tragedy to be averted not only because of the majesty of the species and their role in Palau’s ecosystem, but also because they have a unique and important significance in Palauan culture,” part of the bill reads.
“The Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that action must be taken to protect and preserve this vulnerable population,” it added.
The bill provides that this protection is in the form of increased penalties for the intentional harming or killing of a dugong in Palauan waters, as well as the trade or possession of items made from dugong.
The penalties for harming and killing a dugong increase from three months to one year in prison and/or fine between $5,000 and $10,000 for first offense, to two years and/or fine of between $10,000 and 25,000, and for any subsequent offense, it will go up from six months to three years in prison and fine of between $10,000 and $20,000 to five years and/or a fine of between $10,000 and $30,000.
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is also the only sirenian in its range, which spans the waters of at least 37 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific, though the majority of dugongs live in the northern waters of Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay. The dugong is the only strictly-marine herbivorous mammal, as all species of manatee utilize fresh water to some degree.
