Dugong died in Sydney shark nets

Dead dugong caught in Coogee nets
Malcolm Holland, The Daily Telegraph 25 Nov 09;

A DUGONG has been found dead, entangled in the shark nets at Coogee Beach.

It is understood the gentle marine mammal, an extremely rare visitor to Sydney waters, was discovered when the boat which sets the nets checked them this morning.

Dugongs normally inhabit tropical waters but can travel along the east coast in summer with warm south flowing currents.

A spokesman for Industry and Investment NSW confirmed a dugong had been found dead at Coogee.

A Coogee council lifeguard said he understood the dugong had drowned when caught in the nets but could not comment further.

The dugong was to be taken to Taronga Zoo for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, the Industry and Investment NSW spokesman said.

It is understood the last time dugongs, a gentle creature which feeds on seagrasses, were found in Sydney sharks nets was at Bondi and Tamarama in the early 1950s.

NSW Department of Primary Industries statistics reveal five dugongs died in NSW shark nets between 1950 and 1993.

Some conservation groups have attacked the State government's shark netting program because of the numbers of other marine life which can die when caught in the nets.

Earlier this year the state government announced changes to the netting program which would see them checked more often to help marine life like whales, dolphins, sea turtles and stingrays caught in the nets.

They grow up to 3.5m long and 420kg, feed on seagrasses and can live for more than 70 years.