NGOs block gillnet fishing across 100,000 sq km of Great Barrier Reef

In an effort to protect dugongs and other threatened species, WWF-Australia bought a commercial gillnet fishing license for a swath of ocean in the northern Great Barrier Reef, to establish a de-facto marine sanctuary spanning more than 100,000 km2 (38,600 mi2).

Dugongs, turtles, dolphins and other marine animals are easily caught in gillnets, and experts say many fatalities go unreported. The newly protected region is an important feeding ground for dugongs, supporting a local population of about 7,000, experts say.

WWF-Australia says it hopes the Australian and Queensland state governments will establish more permanent protections for dugongs on the Great Barrier Reef, and that Traditional Owners can use the area for sustainable fishing and tourism.

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