Freshwater Fish Stocking in NSW Environmental Impact Statement
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Freshwater Fish Stocking in NSW Environmental Impact Statement Public Consultation Document Published in November 2003 by NSW Fisheries Cronulla Fisheries Centre PO Box 21 Cronulla NSW 2230 Details of the public consultation process and contact information are included on page 18 of Chapter A Environmental Impact Statement on Freshwater Fish Stocking in NSW Public Consultation Document NSW Fisheries, November 2003 ISBN 0 7310 9429 8 Copyright © 2003 NSW Fisheries Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process without written permission from NSW Fisheries. Inquiries should be addressed to NSW Fisheries. Disclaimer: This document is for discussion and comment only and does not commit the New South Wales Government to the views expressed or to any future action. While this publication has been prepared with care, the New South Wales Government does not accept liability for any decisions taken on the basis of this document. Cover images of golden perch fry and impoundment stocking by J Matthews Environmental Impact Statement on Freshwater Fish Stocking in NSW iii DECLARATION For the purpose of section 115K(4) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the Director-General, NSW Fisheries is the person engaged as responsible for the preparation of this Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Director-General, NSW Fisheries is Mr Steve Dunn, B.Sc. Hons Fishery Science (Plymouth), Master of Management (Macquarie). A range of NSW Fisheries staff and stakeholders with expertise and qualifications in fisheries management, environmental science, fisheries science and fisheries compliance assisted in the preparation of the EIS. Where expertise was not available within NSW Fisheries, external experts were contracted. The EIS has been prepared on behalf of NSW Fisheries (the proponent). The address for the Director-General, NSW Fisheries, is: C/o NSW Fisheries Cronulla Fisheries Centre PO Box 21 CRONULLA NSW 2230 The location of the proposed activity is described in Chapter D. A description of the proposed activity and proposed controls is also provided in Chapter D. An assessment of the environmental impact of the proposed activity as described in the draft Fishery Management Strategy (Chapter D) is presented in the EIS in Chapter E. The EIS contains all available information relevant to the environmental assessment of the activity to which the statement relates. The information provided in the EIS is neither knowingly false nor misleading. Public Consultation Document, November 2003 iv Environmental Impact Statement on Freshwater Fish Stocking in NSW VOLUME TABLE OF CONTENTS Volume 1 Chapter A Executive Summary Chapter B Review of the Existing Activity of Fish Stocking Volume 2 Chapter C Consideration of Alternative Management Options Chapter D The Draft Fishery Management Strategy for the Activity Chapter E Assessment of the Implications of the Draft FMS Chapter F Justification for the Draft FMS Chapter G References Volume 3 (Appendices) Appendix A1 Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources’ Guidelines for the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Draft Fishery Management Strategy for Fish Stocking Appendix B1 Freshwater stocking records of the NSW Fisheries database Appendix B2 Socio-economic surveys conducted by Dominion Consulting Appendix B3 NSW Fish Stocking Strategy: Assessment of Indigenous and Historic Cultural Heritage Issues (Umwelt [Australia] Pty Ltd) Public Consultation Document, November 2003 Environmental Impact Statement on Freshwater Fish Stocking in NSW v CONTENTS AT A GLANCE Volume 1 Table of Contents ...............................................................................................................................vi List of Tables.....................................................................................................................................xii List of Figures.................................................................................................................................... xv Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................xvi Membership on Advisory Boards....................................................................................................xvii Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................xviii Glossary.............................................................................................................................................xx CHAPTER A - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................1 CHAPTER B - REVIEW OF THE EXISTING ACTIVITY OF FISH STOCKING............................19 Overview ...........................................................................................................................................19 B1 The Stocking Activity and its Current Management .............................................................20 B2 Environmental Risks of the Current Activity ......................................................................107 B3 Economic Issues ..................................................................................................................215 B4 Social Issues ........................................................................................................................236 B5 Aboriginal and Cultural Heritage Issues..............................................................................244 Volume 2 CHAPTER C CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS ..............255 C1 Alternate Goals and Objectives of the Draft FMS...............................................................255 C2 Alternate Activity of Fish Stocking.....................................................................................260 C3 Management Measures Proposed in the Draft FMS............................................................264 C4 Performance Reporting and Monitoring..............................................................................267 CHAPTER D THE DRAFT FISHERY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE ACTIVITY.269 D1 Introduction to the Activity of Fish Stocking......................................................................269 D2 Vision and Goals for the Activity........................................................................................277 D3 Designated Stocking Activity..............................................................................................278 D4 Goals, Objectives and Management Responses ..................................................................303 D5 Performance Monitoring and Review..................................................................................324 Appendices to the FMS ...................................................................................................................334 CHAPTER E ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE DRAFT FMS......................361 E1 Implications of the Draft FMS for Threatened or Protected Species ..................................361 E2 Implications of the Draft FMS for Fauna not Currently Listed as Threatened....................369 E3 Implications of the Draft FMS for Areas of Conservation Significance .............................371 E4 Implications of the Draft FMS for Wild Populations ..........................................................374 E5 Implications of the Draft FMS for Fish Health ...................................................................380 E6 Economic Implications of the Draft FMS ...........................................................................381 E7 Social Implications of the Draft FMS..................................................................................392 E8 Implications of the Draft FMS for Aboriginal Culture........................................................397 E9 Implications of the Draft FMS for Sites of Historic, Heritage or Cultural Significance.....402 CHAPTER F JUSTIFICATION FOR THE DRAFT FMS............................................................403 F1 The Need for the Activity of Fish Stocking.........................................................................403 F2 Positive and Negative Aspects of Stocking Under the Draft FMS......................................406 F3 Outline of Key Management Provisions to Minimise Risk.................................................414 F4 Justification for the Draft Strategy ......................................................................................417 CHAPTER G REFERENCES ........................................................................................................421 Public Consultation Document, November 2003 vi Environmental Impact Statement on Freshwater Fish Stocking in NSW Table of Contents Volume 1 Table of Contents................................................................................................................................vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................................... xii List of Figures....................................................................................................................................xv Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................xvi