Torres Strait dugong sanctuary: deepwater seagrass monitoring 2010-2014

Key Findings: 1. The Torres Strait Dugong Sanctaury contains the largest recorded single continuous seagrass meadow in Australia and is likely to play a vital role for local dugong and turtle populations as an important food resource. 2. Seagrasses in the Dugong Sanctuary appear to be in a healthy and productive state. 3. Seagrass meadow biomass followed a distinct seasonal fluctuation with biomass peaks in late spring/ early summer, and biomass reductions in autumn/winter. 4. Halophila spinulosa was the dominant species during all surveys (2010 - 2014). Seagrass species found included those known to be favoured by dugong and turtles, and act as nursery grounds for commercial fisheries species.

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