Dugongs are Palau?s most critically endangered species, suffering decades of unsustainable
hunting that still continues today (Kitalong et al., 2009; CRRF, 2011). Due to the risk of poaching,
habitat degradation and capture in derelict fishing gear, combined with their geographic distance from neighboring dugong populations, the dugongs we aim to survey are thought to belong to the most critically endangered population of dugongs in the world (Marsh et al., 2012). Previous efforts to better understand Palau?s dugong population have included aerial and boat-based surveys that have documented areas and seasons of relatively high dugong sightings, as well as dugong behavior (CRRF, 2011; Etpison, 2011).
The proposed dugong project has three main objectives; 1) to conduct behavioral observations of dugongs (Dugong dugon) and document their habitat use using drones and underwater time-lapse cameras on two neighboring reef flats that are known dugong hotpots: the protected Ngederrak Conservation Area and adjacent Lighthouse Reef in the UNESCO-listed Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, Koror State (study sites map, Appendix 1); 2) to revive public awareness of the Palau dugong and promote public support for their conservation, particularly among younger generations; and 3) to support management and conservation of dugongs and seagrass habitats by documenting habitat use over time and identifying priority areas for conservation