Dynamite blasting kills critically endangered Sea Cow

By Ifham Nizam

A critically endangered Dugong, commonly called sea cow, killed due to blast fishing in the seas off Norochcholai was found yesterday. It was handed over to the Department of Wildlife and Conservation by the Fisheries Department officials.

The dead mammal was initially examined by Puttalam Fisheries Office, Assistant Director, Suminda Wickramarachchi.

Co-founder and Principal Scientist at Biodiversity Education & Research (BEAR) Ranil Nanayakara told The Island that the animal had been found with bleeding eyes caused by blast fishing.

Nanayakara said that the law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident and punish those responsible.

A Wildlife Department official said that many dugongs had become victims of illegal fishing nets and blast fishing.

“Though they are legally protected in many countries, their population is in decline mainly due to fishing-related fatalities, habitat degradation and hunting.”

Nanayakara said the sea cow’s lifespan was between 50 and 70 years but many of them died prematurely due to human activity.

Dugongs have been reported in seagrass meadows in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay.