Recent aerial surveys of the southern Great Barrier Reef have revealed a dramatic decline in the region’s dugong population.

The endangered mammal’s numbers are at their lowest since the surveying of the area began in 1986. Results show a significant reduction in fertility due to extreme weather conditions along the coast of Queensland in 2011.

The report calls for policy development by the state and federal governments to reduce the amount of ports in the region and to increase protected dugong habitats.