Experts on Tamil Nadu’s decision to go ahead with dugong reserve in Palk Bay

Context

Tamil Nadu government recently established a conservation reserve for the elusive dugong in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay between India and Sri Lanka.

About

About Dugong:

The dugong is a species of sea cow found throughout the warm latitudes of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
It is the only member of the Dugongidae family.
The dugong, like all sea cows, is herbivorous.
It primarily grazes on sea grasses and therefore spends most of its time in sea grass beds.
Unlike the closely related manatees, the dugong never enters freshwater and is therefore the only exclusively marine mammal that is herbivorous.
The marine animal has been enlisted vulnerable to extinction on a global scale by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
In India, they are found in the Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Dugong or the sea cow is the State animal of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

About Dugong Conservation Reserve:

India’s first Dugong conservation reserve will be built in Tamil Nadu for the conservation of Dugong.
The reserve will spread over an area of 500 km in Palk Bay on the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu.
Palk Bay is a semi-enclosed shallow water body with a water depth maximum of 13 meters.
Causes of extinction: The reasons for the extinction of the animal are slow breeding rate, fishing, and the loss of habitat.