In addition, by specifying the location of the photographs, these citizen contributions will also make it possible to constitute valuable data for the scientific teams, with the aim of preserving the marine environment.
Indeed, New Caledonia is the only French territory that is home to a viable population of dugongs, but their survival is today strongly threatened by many human activities such as poaching, catching in fishing nets, collisions or habitat degradation. All efforts must be made to safeguard this population, in particular developing actions to take a census of the herbaria on which the dugongs feed.
The program is spread over a period of 6 months, from January to May 2022. To join the adventure, you will need:
- Take photographs of herbaria during your dives or sea trips: a detail view, an overview (from above and / or ¾), an overview of the substrate (seabed where the herbarium rests);
- Note the GPS point or, failing that, specify the place of observation;
- Send the photographs along with your first and last name to the e-mail address: [email protected].
The best photographs will be exhibited at the end of the program. The photographs collected will also be processed in class with college students, as part of awareness-raising actions around the protection of the species and the importance of protecting dugong habitats.
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