Dugongs are a keystone species of the Great Barrier Reef and one of Australia’s most iconic marine animals. Highly dependent on seagrass, dugongs consume up to 30kg daily. That’s why clean water and healthy seagrass meadows are critical to their survival.
Pollutants from farm fertilisers and eroded soil clouds the Reef’s inshore waters and can reach far offshore during flood events. This murky water has reduced seagrass coverage in recent decades, leading to a steady decline in dugong numbers in the southern and central Reef regions.
The Great Barrier Reef supports 77,000 jobs and generates $9 billion annually, but it is only as valuable as it is healthy. Reducing water pollution helps seagrass recover, protects dugongs and boosts the Reef’s health in the face of climate change.
Yet, the Queensland Government has still not published its promised strategy to cut water pollution by 2030, and has not committed the funding needed to achieve these pollution cuts.
Email your Qld government MP today: demand a commitment from the Queensland Government to reduce water pollution by 2030.