Management program for the saltwater crocodile in the Northern Territory of Australia 2009-2013
Fukuda, Yusuke; Delaney, Robyn; Leach, Gregory J
Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport
E-Publications; E-Books; PublicationNT
2009-04
The draft program is open for public comment to Friday 29 May 2009. Includes Summary document.
Date:2009-04; Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).
English
Crocodylus porosus -- Northern Territory; Crocodiles -- Conservation -- Northern Territory; Crocodiles -- Control -- Northern Territory; Crocodiles -- Government Policy -- Northern Territory
Northern Territory Government
Darwin
Draft.
60 pages : illustration, maps ; 30 cm.
application/pdf
9781921519260
Attribution International 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)
Northern Territory Government
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
http://hdl.handle.net/10070/214159[Final Edition]
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/212633
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/716134
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/716136
Draft Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile in the Northern Territory 13 3.6.2 Harvesting - impacts on other species, habitats and ecosystems Most eggs are collected by helicopter, which has no impact on soil erosion, water bodies, watercourses, wetlands or drainage systems. The very small numbers of non-hatchling crocodiles taken, mostly by boat, mean that these operations also do not significantly adversely impact the habitat. There is no evidence or expectation that the commercial harvest is likely to have any impacts on threatened species or ecological communities of conservation significance or that it will cause disturbance or displacement to native fauna. Similarly there is no evidence as yet that commercial harvest helps introduce or disperse invasive weeds although there is a possibility that the floats of helicopters could be a vector for aquatic weeds such as Salvinia or Eichhornia. It is becoming apparent that landholders are increasingly managing land to favour crocodile nesting habitat which means efforts to reduce mimosa and buffalo, and to manage fire will favour establishing nesting vegetation. Large crocodiles take introduced herbivores such as buffalo, cattle and pigs but the overall impact on these populations is probably negligible. 4. Management Practices and Performance Measures To achieve the aims and objectives of this management program, NRETAS in conjunction with RDPIFR implements a range of management practices to control the harvest, farming and trade of Saltwater Crocodiles in accord with the TPWC Act and the EPBC Act. Performance indicators (PI) are provided for each management practice. The milestones and performance measures for the life of this program are summarised in Appendix 2. Objective 1 - To facilitate the sustainable use of Saltwater Crocodiles 4.1 Commercial harvest and use Restrictions on live animal harvesting The Northern Territory Government will seek to maintain the presence of a visible crocodile population and large iconic (14 ft or 4.2 m) individuals through the creation of zones where harvesting of life cycle stages other than eggs is restricted. Harvesting will be prohibited or restricted in some areas or circumstances if necessary to maintain local or regional populations or to maintain non-use benefits from the species. In particular, harvesting of juvenile and adult crocodiles will not normally be permitted: 1. In waterways where the watercourse forms the boundary between two or more properties. 2. From the Mary River catchment north of the Arnhem Highway, the Adelaide River catchment north of the Marrakai Crossing, the East Alligator River and the Daly River catchment west of Oolloo Crossing. 3. In catchments that are heavily used by the tourist industry. Where low level harvest is permitted it will be strongly regulated to ensure that tourism interests are not damaged.