Stephanie Fitzpatrick ABC News 29 Nov 11;
A Queensland Government scientist says there has been a decline in the number of marine animal deaths along the state's coast.
Dr Julia Playford, from Department of Environment and Resource Management, says there have been about 270 turtle strandings, 12 dugongs deaths and six dolphin deaths in central Queensland in the past year.
Dr Playford says some died from boat strikes, fishing lines and human activities and other from natural causes.
"The animals are beginning to obtain more food and therefore likely to be in better health because they have more food resources," she said.
"We're fairly clear on what's causing the deaths and it's largely around seagrass decline and lack of food resources, meaning that they are malnourished."
Dr Playford says a regrowth of seagrass beds has helped to reduce the number of dugong and dolphin deaths.
"It's obviously very distressing to see so many animals are unwell and dying," she said.
"Individuals in the population appear to be recovering as we do further health checks over time, once the seagrasses started to recover.
"In fact, in the last six weeks we've seen a real decline in the rate of strandings."
