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 22 4.3 Management-focused research Management decisions will be enhanced by focused new research and analysis of existing data. The Northern Territory Government will review and analyse all previous available data to describe changes to Saltwater Crocodile populations and their distribution over that time period. This will include a risk analysis for the Darwin rural area that will identify high risk hotspots which can be targeted for more frequent surveillance and intensive management actions (see Objective 2). It is envisaged that any harvest system will draw on population models to aid decisionmaking. Population modelling will provide an additional decision support tool to assess harvest options and possible impacts at different spatial scales. NRETAS will assess and issue permits for research on crocodiles. Crocodiles or any crocodile products taken under a research permit will not be considered as part of this management program unless they will enter into commercial trade. Any live eggs that arise from permitted research activities that enter the commercial farming system will be included within the ceiling and the reporting to the Australian Government. Non-viable eggs collected for permitted research activities will be excluded from the egg ceiling. Additional viable eggs can be obtained for legitimate research provided they do not enter the commercial industry. These eggs would be subject to the normal conditions and processes covered under any research proposals that use wildlife. Performance Indicators Review and analyse available data to describe changes to Saltwater Crocodile populations and their distribution and publish the outcomes as appropriate. Develop population/harvest simulation models to provide an additional decisions support tool to assess harvest options and possible impacts. Objective 2 - To promote community awareness and public safety Risk Assessment A risk management approach to minimise negative interactions with people is critical to any management process that endeavours to maintain a top order predator such as Saltwater Crocodiles in the landscape. In particular, the expansion of the Darwin rural area and the increased number of people choosing to live a rural lifestyle is increasing the potential of interactions with crocodiles. The three basic approaches that can be adopted to improve public safety are: reducing crocodile numbers in areas where people and crocodiles significantly overlap; increasing public awareness and responsibility and increasing barriers to prevent either human entry to the water or the movement of crocodiles into high public-use areas. The most effective management response will depend on the size of the area to be managed, the practicality of actions and the level of risk. For the Darwin rural area data sources such as human population density and growth, crocodile population trends, nuisance crocodile capture records and GIS layers of habitat and watercourses will help identify high risk hotspots which