Seagrass and Dugongs as Indicators of Ecosystem Health on the Andaman Coast of Thailand: Key Findings

In response to government and community concern about the recent loss of seagrass and increase in the number of dead and emaciated dugongs along the Andaman Coast (Thailand), WWF Thailand organized and supported a fact-finding mission with the cooperation of the Thai Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DCMR). The Mission Team spent five days on the Andaman Coast (19-25 January 2025). The team inspected the condition of seagrass meadows, was briefed on attempts at seagrass restoration, observed the use of drones to monitor the distribution, abundance and behavior dugongs at local (bay) scales and met with local experts from Universities and DMCR, NGOs and community groups. The following is a summary of the mission’s key findings.