- 50
Dugong and Seagrass
Others
Dugongs are cousins of manatees and share a similar plump appearance, but have a dolphin fluke-like tail. And unlike manatees, which use freshwater areas, the dugong is strictly a marine mammal. Commonly known as "sea cows," dugongs graze peacefully on sea grasses in shallow coastal waters.
Dugongs are threatened by sea grass habitat loss or degradation because of coastal development or industrial activities that cause water pollution. If there is not enough sea grass to eat then the dugong does not breed normally. This makes the conservation of their shallow water marine habitat very important. They also often become victims of bycatch, the accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
The solution:
1) Wave blockers made from coconut husks, to create an area free of waves in the shallow coastal areas for dugong, aka dugong safezone.
2) Breathing app - that encourages anybody anywhere in the world with a smart phone to participate. The app 'collects' CO2 and turn it into seagrass plantation. Example, people will challenge themselves to use the breathing app collect CO2. Every 1kg of CO2 collected will be turned into 1 square meter of seagrass plantation, in the dugong safezone.
3) DIY seagrass planting kit. To allow anybody anywhere to grow seagrass through the diy planting kit. Once seagrass is more mature, they will send their seagrass kit made from 3d printed terracotta pot to the coastal areas and transplant them into the shallow seabed.
4) Sea lanterns will be placed among the transplanted seagrass. It emits yellow light to stop the growth of phytoplankton.
5) Robodugong. A robotic dugong that acts as a surveillance to patrol around the safe zone and to keep it safe from poachers and industrial activities that will harm the dugong. It can also identity and colloect rubbish in the safezone.
Dugongs are threatened by sea grass habitat loss or degradation because of coastal development or industrial activities that cause water pollution. If there is not enough sea grass to eat then the dugong does not breed normally. This makes the conservation of their shallow water marine habitat very important. They also often become victims of bycatch, the accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
The solution:
1) Wave blockers made from coconut husks, to create an area free of waves in the shallow coastal areas for dugong, aka dugong safezone.
2) Breathing app - that encourages anybody anywhere in the world with a smart phone to participate. The app 'collects' CO2 and turn it into seagrass plantation. Example, people will challenge themselves to use the breathing app collect CO2. Every 1kg of CO2 collected will be turned into 1 square meter of seagrass plantation, in the dugong safezone.
3) DIY seagrass planting kit. To allow anybody anywhere to grow seagrass through the diy planting kit. Once seagrass is more mature, they will send their seagrass kit made from 3d printed terracotta pot to the coastal areas and transplant them into the shallow seabed.
4) Sea lanterns will be placed among the transplanted seagrass. It emits yellow light to stop the growth of phytoplankton.
5) Robodugong. A robotic dugong that acts as a surveillance to patrol around the safe zone and to keep it safe from poachers and industrial activities that will harm the dugong. It can also identity and colloect rubbish in the safezone.
