Torres Strait dugong sanctuary: deepwater seagrass monitoring 2010-2014

Key Findings:\ud \ud 1. The Torres Strait Dugong Sanctaury contains the largest recorded single continuous seagrass meadow in Australia and is likely to play a vital role for local dugong and turtle populations as an important food resource.\ud \ud 2. Seagrasses in the Dugong Sanctuary appear to be in a healthy and productive state.\ud \ud 3. Seagrass meadow biomass followed a distinct seasonal fluctuation with biomass peaks in late spring/ early summer, and biomass reductions in autumn/winter.\ud \ud 4. Halophila spinulosa was the dominant species during all surveys (2010 - 2014). Seagrass species found included those known to be favoured by dugong and turtles, and act as nursery grounds for commercial fisheries species