Hunting and Game Management Action Plan
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PAGE 1 HUNTING AND GAME MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN HUNTING AND GAME MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN CONTENTS Minister’s foreword 2 Hunting and Game Management Action Plan 4 Strategic Objectives and Actions 8 Strategic Objective 1 Promote responsible and humane hunting 10 Strategic Objective 2 Realise the economic and social benefits of hunting and game management in Victoria 16 Strategic Objective 3 Improve opportunities for hunting across Victoria 22 Strategic Objective 4 Improve wildlife, conservation and land management outcomes 26 PAGE 3 HUNTING AND GAME MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN MINISTER’S FOREWORD SECURING A FUTURE FOR VICTORIA’S GAME HUNTING INDUSTRY I am proud to release the Victorian Government’s Hunting and Game Management Action Plan. The Government is committed to encouraging more people to interact with the natural environment and to take advantage of the outstanding opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities Victoria has to offer. The Victorian Government recognises the I thank the former Victorian Hunting Advisory importance of hunting and game management Committee for its role in developing the to Victoria’s cultural heritage. Game hunting Action Plan. The Committee, ably chaired has been regulated for over 150 years and by the Hon. Roger Hallam, led a series of hunters have a long and proud history in stakeholder workshops in 2013 with hunting, conserving wildlife habitats and contributing to conservation, animal welfare, public land, the State’s biosecurity efforts in controlling pest and industry representatives. I also thank animals. Today there are more than 46,000 those representatives who participated in the licenced game hunters in Victoria, and many consultation process – I am confident of a more hunters involved in pest management more comprehensive Action Plan as a result activities. of your contributions. Hunting and game management enhances The Action Plan will be delivered by a range the economic and social fabric of the of government departments and agencies State, with hunting generating an estimated including the Department of Environment and $439 million in economic activity and hunters Primary Industries, Parks Victoria, and the Game being a vibrant addition to many rural and Management Authority. These departments and regional communities. agencies will work in cooperation with hunting organisations, hunting businesses, conservation The Hunting and Game Management Action organisations, and private landowners to Plan reflects the Victorian Government’s vision ensure the success of the Plan. of better game management outcomes that provide healthy habitats, improve access to The Victorian Government is committed to sustainably managed game resources, and the policy directions outlined in the Plan, and contribute to a thriving hunting industry. I look forward to working with communities, stakeholders and government departments To deliver on this vision, the Action Plan to ensure it is fully implemented. includes a range of targeted and practical actions that: • promote responsible and humane hunting • realise the economic and social benefits of hunting and game management The Hon. Peter Walsh MLA • improve opportunities for hunting Minister for Agriculture and Food Security • improve wildlife, conservation and land management outcomes. PAGE 4 HUNTING AND GAME MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN HUNTING AND GAME MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN INTRODUCTION HUNTING AND GAME The Victorian Government supports MANAGEMENT sustainable and responsible hunting and game Hunting and game management has a rich management in the State. Our vision is for cultural heritage. better game management outcomes that provide healthy habitats, improve access to Aboriginal communities across Australia, sustainably managed game resources, and including in Victoria, have hunted wildlife for contribute to a thriving hunting industry. at least 20 000 years. They depended on the management and sustainable use of wildlife Victoria has arguably world-class game hunting for food, clothing, shelter, and cultural and opportunities. Our open seasons for game spiritual needs. deer, duck and quail provide for excellent hunting while also ensuring the sustainable Hunting and game management has also management of species. The Victorian occurred across the world for centuries. Government encourages all hunters to take Many early settlers to Australia drew on a advantage of these opportunities and support proud European hunting culture, and this our regional towns and hunting industry. tradition supported their survival and enabled exploration and development of the continent. Hunting has a proud and rich cultural heritage in Victoria, particularly in rural and regional In Victoria, game hunting has occurred for Victoria. Hunting and game management over 150 years and has been regulated since encourages people to connect with the natural the early 1860s. Research has shown that environment and to conserve habitats. regulated hunting is sustainable and has not put at risk the conservation status of any The Hunting and Game Management Action species, game or non-game. Plan provides the Victorian Government’s strategic policy direction for the future. It Hunters contribute time and resources to the seeks to maximise the benefits of hunting and conservation of wildlife habitats across the game management and to actively manage landscape. Victoria’s network of State Game challenges across the landscape. Reserves and many of the State’s wetlands owe their existence to hunters who recognised the degradation and loss of wetland habitat, and lobbied for their conservation. Generations of migrants have continued to bring their rich hunting heritage to Australia. As a result, Victorian hunters come from a diverse range of social, economic and geographic backgrounds – from farmers and primary producers for whom hunting is an important component of farm management, to game hunters who laud the State’s natural environment. While hunting is no longer required for survival, a strong historical tie binds many Victorians to hunting as a form of sustainable wildlife use – including as a cherished food source. PAGE 5 HUNTING AND GAME MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN Today, the sustainable use of wildlife is THE CONTRIBUTION OF internationally recognised as an integral tool HUNTING AND GAME for the management and conservation of biodiversity.1 Sustainable and responsible MANAGEMENT hunting creates incentives to conserve habitats Hunting and game management activities and the wildlife that inhabit them. The hunting generate a diverse range of benefits. community in Victoria and around the world Many countries, including New Zealand, the continues to be actively engaged in practical United States, United Kingdom, Finland, and conservation projects that benefit not only South Africa, provide for sustainable and game species, but all wildlife that form part of regulated hunting tourism with associated healthy and productive ecosystems. economic and biodiversity benefits. Australia is a signatory to a number of In Victoria, hunting generated around international conventions that relate to $439 million of direct and indirect economic sustainable hunting, including the Convention activity in Victoria in 20133. It is a vital on Biological Diversity and Convention component of many rural and regional on Wetlands (also known as the Ramsar economies. For example, it is estimated that Convention). These international conventions $76 million is spent annually in the Gippsland are underpinned by objective scientific region and $27.9 million in the Loddon Mallee evidence and commit Australia to the North region. sustainable use of natural resources. Australia gives effect to these conventions in the design Hunting supports thousands of jobs and and implementation of policies and programs – businesses directly related to the manufacture Australia’s approach to kangaroo management and sale of hunting and outdoor products and for example, is recognised internationally as an services. This includes businesses relating to outstanding large scale sustainable wildlife use firearms and ammunition, safety equipment, program.2 fuel, accommodation (caravan parks, hotels and motels), camping and hunting equipment, In Victoria, hunting and game management and cafes and other food businesses. Hunting is controlled through legislation and also supports a number of specialist businesses, regulations that are consistent with national including private game bird farms, private and international obligations. These include hunting tour operators, and taxidermy. the Wildlife Act 1975, the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012, and the Code of Practice for The growing number of interstate and the Welfare of Animals in Hunting made under international hunters coming to Victoria the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. provides an opportunity to promote Victoria’s In addition to enforcing compliance with laws world-class game hunting opportunities and and regulations, the Victorian Government also deliver further economic benefits, particularly plays an active role in providing information in regional areas. to hunters on hunting opportunities and educating them on their legal obligations in order to maximise compliance. 1 Brainerd, S. (2007) European Charter on Hunting and 3 Department of Environment and Primary Industries (2014) Biodiversity, Convention on the Conservation of European Estimating the economic impact of hunting in Victoria Wildlife and Natural Habitats. in 2013. 2 Victoria and the Northern Territory