Historically, dugongs were common in shallow coastal waters of East Malaysia and were hunted, particularly in Sabah. Today, their occurrences are rather occasional. Due to the unknown population status, this research is conducted to create and compiles information on dugong distribution and abundance, and highlight threats affecting the animals in the area.
During the survey period, we also investigated 9 strandings and 4 incidental catches of dugongs in the west and north coast of Sabah. All strandings and incidental catches were of a single dugong with mean size of 2.26 ± 0.43 (n = 10) meter. Most of the stranded dugongs were moderately decomposed and a number of human-related causes were suggested. The use of gillnets and kelongs are found to be the main factor for the incidental catches of dugongs. Caught dugongs were either found dead or alive, but later slaughtered for local consumption
Many older fishermen and villagers interviewed in Sabah, Labuan, and Lawas, Sarawak reported had seen live dugongs before. They indicated that dugong populations have declined significantly in the past few decades, however, they believed the animals are still presence in a very small number. Traditional hunting for meat, starvation, vessel collisions, dynamite fishing, entanglement in fishing gear, disease, and degradation of seagrass areas caused by sedimentation and pollution from coastal development and palm oil plantations are amongst the reasons given for the decline.
