(MENAFN- QNA) A workshop organised at Qatar University Research Complex discussed marine mammal dugong's population, global status and conversation.
Qatar University (QU), ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) and Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) hosted the two-day workshop, QU said Sunday.
The dugong is a large herbivorous marine mammal around three meters long, weighing more than 400 kilograms, and has a lifespan of up to 60 years. Together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia.
Qatar is home to the largest population of dugongs outside of Australia. Historically, dugongs have a cultural and economic importance to Qataris. It has been used as an economic and food resource in the Arabian Gulf for more than 7,500 years.
Dugongs have a low reproductive output. They are listed as Vulnerable to Extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
In Qatar dugongs face challenges like incidental fishing and habitat degradation. Limited research has been conducted on Qatari dugongs thus far and the tri-party initiative will aim to develop the scientific understanding needed to inform decisions for their protections and conservation, QU said.
The workshop follows the recent signing of an agreement in July by the three parties to further environmental research and marine mammal initiatives relevant to Qatar.
40 environmental regulators and academics, from environment research, management, and conservation institutes, and other stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, discussed strategies and recommendations for dugong conservation.
QU Associate Vice-president for Research and Strategic Initiatives Dr Bhanu Chowdhary said, "The expertise and excellent facilities and resources available at QU through the Environmental Studies Center, and other departments and research units in various colleges, along with various national and regional partners, will allow the research partners to successfully tackle key issues related to conservation of this indigenous species."
He reaffirmed QU's commitment to knowledge-sharing and providing expertise for multidisciplinary research, education and learning in line with the organization’s research priorities and in contribution to the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, National Research Strategy, and other national development strategies.
EMRQ Research Director Dr Jennifer Dupont said, "We are pleased to work with QU and Texas A&M University at Galveston to conduct research on the dugong population in Qatar. It is a fascinating species and we are committed to learning more about it, while ensuring it is protected and continues to thrive in its natural habitat.
"Our research at EMRQ supports Qatar Foundation's National Research Strategy with regard to energy and the environment, and also endorses ExxonMobil's commitment to support Qatar's development."
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