One of the last colonies of dugongs under threat from natural gas plant

The Independent (U.K.) ^ | 08/01/03 | Kathy Marks

[Pokey78]

A colony of rare dugongs, or sea cows, is under threat because of a natural gas plant being built on the harbour at Darwin in northern Australia, marine scientists have warned.

The dugong is an endangered species whose numbers are in sharp decline worldwide. Australia has the world's largest remaining population, including a sizeable colony in Darwin harbour, which is home to abundant marine life, including man-eating saltwater crocodiles.

The dugong, a herbivorous mammal the size of a small whale, is noted for its shyness and grace of movement. Sailors supposedly mistook the creatures for mermaids. Fishermen say they cry piteously, like a baby, when injured.

Environmentalists fear the noise and activity generated by large gas tankers will drive them out of the harbour. "The dugongs won't last two minutes," said Ray Taylor, a member of Save Darwin Harbour Group, a lobby organisation formed by local residents.

Construction has just begun on the plant, which will process liquefied natural gas piped in from fields below the Timor Sea, 300 miles north of Darwin. The project follows an agreement signed by Australia and East Timor to share the resources of the Timor Sea. An additional 48 ships will use the harbour when the plant, constructed by Phillips Petroleum, begins operating in 2006. That number will triple when it reaches full capacity.

Dugong numbers have fallen steeply in recent years, their habitats eroded by coastal development and their food source - seagrass - destroyed by pollution. Many animals are caught accidentally in fishermen's nets. In the Torres Strait, between northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, they are legally hunted by indigenous people for food.

Dr Scott Whiting, a marine biologist at Northern Territory University, believes there will be an exodus from the harbour. "Probably the major impact will be habitat loss," he said. "The dugongs will move away from their habitat because of noise and activity."

Blair Murphy, the Darwin area manager for Phillips Petroleum, said the impact on the dugongs would be minimal. He said they were more likely to be hit by small boats than by slow-moving tankers. "We will be working with dugong specialists to monitor any impact on habitat," he said. "There could be some movement from one place to another, but they do move up and down the coast within hundreds of kilometres. We are waiting for more detailed studies."

[Pokey78]

Size: Weight averages around 600 pounds but can weigh more than 800 pounds. Length is about 9 feet.

Habitat: Shallow, tropical marine coastal water.

Facts: Although the dugong and the manatee are members of the order Sirenia, the dugong comes from a separate family, Dugongidae. The main difference between them is manatees are primarily fresh water mammals, while dugongs are marine (ocean) mammals. Dugongs are more streamlined and have whale-like flukes (tail fin), while manatees are slower and more robust.
Dugong? The name comes from the Malay word "duyong". It is sometimes called sea pig or like the manatee, sea cow.

New Guinea: New Guinea reefs are rich in terms of species and are much less disturbed than those of other Southeast Asian countries. It is one of the last refuges, along with Australia, for the endangered/threatened dugong.

Status: Endangered/threatened

[Libertarianize the GOP]

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[NonValueAdded]

Does anyone else see the irony in this happening in Darwin harbor?

[Consort]

        DARWIN

[Tacis]

A dugong fillet, if cooked properly and served with the right wine made from organicly grown grapes, is delicious!

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.

[tubebender]

Here Is a related link that may be the destination of these tankers...LNG on Humboldt Bay

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The enviro greenies will shut that down, won't they?

[tubebender]

The enviro greenies will shut that down, won't they?

I doubt that the plant will ever get beyond the dream stage although it will be built on the site of a former pulp mill. There are serious faults running near the site and it is in tsunami zone...

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!