Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia, 2016-2020
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Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia, 2016-2020 Photo: Jenny Petursson Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia, 2016-2020 Flora and Fauna Division Department of Environment and Natural Resources PO Box 496 Palmerston NT 0831 Ó Northern Territory of Australia First Published 2016 This work is copyright. It may be reproduced for study, research or training purposes subject to an acknowledgment of the sources and no commercial usage or sale. Requests and enquires concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Chief Executive, Department of Land Resource Management, PO Box 496, Palmerston NT 0831, Australia. Citation Saalfeld K, Fukuda Y, Duldig T and Fisher A (2016). Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia, 2016-2020. Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Darwin. Program Approval The Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia, 2016-2020. This is a management program prepared and provided by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory for approval under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. Approved by the Administrator for the Northern Territory as an approved management program under section 34(2) of the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act on 29-June- 2017. This program will be reviewed within five years of the date of approval. The accompanying Wildlife Trade Management Plan for the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia, 2016-2020 was approved by the Australian Minister for the Environment under subsection 303FO of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 2000 on 21 December 2015. Contents Contents iii Definitions and Acronyms ...................................................................................................... 6 1. Introduction 8 1.1 Aims and Objectives ...............................................................................................10 1.2 Species ...................................................................................................................10 1.3 Responsible authority .............................................................................................10 1.4 Legislative, national and international obligations ...................................................11 1.4.1 Northern Territory ........................................................................................11 1.4.2 Commonwealth Government .......................................................................12 1.4.3 International ................................................................................................12 2. Program Context ............................................................................................................14 2.1 Socio-economic significance ...................................................................................14 2.1.1 Cultural values ............................................................................................14 2.1.2 Economic values .........................................................................................14 2.2 Population estimates and trends .............................................................................15 2.3 Saltwater crocodile habitat ......................................................................................15 2.4 Problem saltwater crocodiles ..................................................................................15 2.5 History of use ..........................................................................................................16 2.6 Threats and impacts ...............................................................................................16 3 Management practices ...................................................................................................17 Objective 1 - To facilitate the growth of the crocodile industry through the sustainable use of saltwater crocodiles. ...........................................................................................17 3.1 Commercial harvest from the wild ...........................................................................17 3.1.1 Harvest Ceiling ............................................................................................17 3.1.2 Harvest review ............................................................................................19 3.1.3 Permits and compliance ..............................................................................20 3.1.4 Monitoring ...................................................................................................23 Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile in the Northern Territory iii 3.1.5 Animal Welfare ............................................................................................24 3.1.6 Reporting.....................................................................................................24 Objective 2 - To ensure that landholders receive benefit through their support for the sustainable use and conservation of the Saltwater Crocodile and its habitats................ 25 3.2 Landholder benefit ..................................................................................................25 3.2.1 Safari hunting ..............................................................................................26 Objective 3 - To increase public safety through the management of problem Saltwater Crocodiles.. ...................................................................................................................26 3.3 Removal of problem crocodiles ...............................................................................27 Objective 4 - To improve community awareness of the risks posed by Saltwater Crocodiles.. ...................................................................................................................28 3.4 Community awareness and participation ................................................................28 3.5 Other management issues ......................................................................................29 3.6 Review of the management program ......................................................................29 3.7 Annual actions and performance measures for the Program ..................................30 4. References .............................................................................................................34 Appendix 1: Background Information - Crocodylus porosus.................................................39 Conservation status .......................................................................................................39 Distribution ....................................................................................................................39 Ecology............................................................................................................................39 Population Threats ........................................................................................................43 Appendix 2: Farm Management ..........................................................................................45 Farm Biosecurity ...........................................................................................................45 Farm Security ................................................................................................................45 Farm Data ....................................................................................................................45 Farm Visitation ..............................................................................................................45 Animal Welfare ..............................................................................................................45 Farm Workers OH&S .....................................................................................................45 Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile in the Northern Territory iv Farmer Responsibilities .................................................................................................45 Appendix 3: Saltwater Crocodile densities in the rivers monitored in the Northern Territory 47 Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile in the Northern Territory v Definitions and Acronyms Adult Animals greater than 1.8 metres total length are classed as adults. This is a defined size class for the purpose of this Management Program and does not equate to sexual maturity. ALR(NT) Act Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act (Commonwealth legislation). CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Crocodile Products and By-products Includes all parts from a crocodile except for skins as defined below. Crocodile Skins Includes raw or tanned whole skins (belly, horn-back and cape). DENR Department of Environment and Land Resources (Northern Territory Government). DoE The Department of the Environment (Australian Government). DPIR Department of Primary Industry and Resources (Northern Territory Government). Egg Harvest The physical removal of an egg from its natural location in the wild and transportation to another location. Eggs Unless otherwise stipulated includes all eggs regardless