A parliamentary question regarding the protection of invertebrate fauna, specifically stygofauna, under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. The Minister clarifies the existing notices and policies related to invertebrate protection.

AnsweredQoN 643Legislative Council
Asked
24 August 2004
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Has the minister issued a notice that exempts the protection of invertebrate fauna such as stygofauna? (2) If so, under which section of what Act? (3) If so, when did this occur, and why? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

(1) No. Stygofauna is a classification of fauna that inhabit subterranean water bodies and may be vertebrates or invertebrates. The Wildlife Conservation (Protected Invertebrate Fauna) Notice made by the then Minister for the Environment under section 14(2)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and published in the Government Gazette of 8 April 1994 declared one family of jewel beetles, one genus of ants and four other invertebrate species as protected fauna throughout the State. That left other invertebrate fauna unprotected except in a marine nature reserve or a marine park. The Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2004 made by the Minister for the Environment and published in the Government Gazette of 6 July 2004 lists all taxa of fauna that are specially protected under section 14(2)(ba) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950, including a number of taxa that are stygofauna. (2) See answer to (1). (3) See answer to (1). The 1994 notice generally exempts invertebrates from protection with the exception of those invertebrates specifically listed as protected. The 2004 notice includes 83 species of invertebrate fauna that are specially protected as threatened fauna, including a number of stygofauna species. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, protected fauna and specially protected fauna may not be taken except under licence or when an open season has been declared. The long-standing policy has been that the general protection provided to fauna has been varied for invertebrates, other than those identified as requiring special protection, so that people are not placed in the position of committing an offence if they destroy or injure most invertebrate species, including native mosquitoes, flies and spiders.
(2) If so, under which section of what Act? (3) If so, when did this occur, and why? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) No. Stygofauna is a classification of fauna that inhabit subterranean water bodies and may be vertebrates or invertebrates. The Wildlife Conservation (Protected Invertebrate Fauna) Notice made by the then Minister for the Environment under section 14(2)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and published in the Government Gazette of 8 April 1994 declared one family of jewel beetles, one genus of ants and four other invertebrate species as protected fauna throughout the State. That left other invertebrate fauna unprotected except in a marine nature reserve or a marine park. The Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2004 made by the Minister for the Environment and published in the Government Gazette of 6 July 2004 lists all taxa of fauna that are specially protected under section 14(2)(ba) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950, including a number of taxa that are stygofauna. (2) See answer to (1). (3) See answer to (1). The 1994 notice generally exempts invertebrates from protection with the exception of those invertebrates specifically listed as protected. The 2004 notice includes 83 species of invertebrate fauna that are specially protected as threatened fauna, including a number of stygofauna species. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, protected fauna and specially protected fauna may not be taken except under licence or when an open season has been declared. The long-standing policy has been that the general protection provided to fauna has been varied for invertebrates, other than those identified as requiring special protection, so that people are not placed in the position of committing an offence if they destroy or injure most invertebrate species, including native mosquitoes, flies and spiders.
(3) If so, when did this occur, and why? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) No. Stygofauna is a classification of fauna that inhabit subterranean water bodies and may be vertebrates or invertebrates. The Wildlife Conservation (Protected Invertebrate Fauna) Notice made by the then Minister for the Environment under section 14(2)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and published in the Government Gazette of 8 April 1994 declared one family of jewel beetles, one genus of ants and four other invertebrate species as protected fauna throughout the State. That left other invertebrate fauna unprotected except in a marine nature reserve or a marine park. The Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2004 made by the Minister for the Environment and published in the Government Gazette of 6 July 2004 lists all taxa of fauna that are specially protected under section 14(2)(ba) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950, including a number of taxa that are stygofauna. (2) See answer to (1). (3) See answer to (1). The 1994 notice generally exempts invertebrates from protection with the exception of those invertebrates specifically listed as protected. The 2004 notice includes 83 species of invertebrate fauna that are specially protected as threatened fauna, including a number of stygofauna species. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, protected fauna and specially protected fauna may not be taken except under licence or when an open season has been declared. The long-standing policy has been that the general protection provided to fauna has been varied for invertebrates, other than those identified as requiring special protection, so that people are not placed in the position of committing an offence if they destroy or injure most invertebrate species, including native mosquitoes, flies and spiders.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) No. Stygofauna is a classification of fauna that inhabit subterranean water bodies and may be vertebrates or invertebrates. The Wildlife Conservation (Protected Invertebrate Fauna) Notice made by the then Minister for the Environment under section 14(2)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and published in the Government Gazette of 8 April 1994 declared one family of jewel beetles, one genus of ants and four other invertebrate species as protected fauna throughout the State. That left other invertebrate fauna unprotected except in a marine nature reserve or a marine park. The Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2004 made by the Minister for the Environment and published in the Government Gazette of 6 July 2004 lists all taxa of fauna that are specially protected under section 14(2)(ba) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950, including a number of taxa that are stygofauna. (2) See answer to (1). (3) See answer to (1). The 1994 notice generally exempts invertebrates from protection with the exception of those invertebrates specifically listed as protected. The 2004 notice includes 83 species of invertebrate fauna that are specially protected as threatened fauna, including a number of stygofauna species. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, protected fauna and specially protected fauna may not be taken except under licence or when an open season has been declared. The long-standing policy has been that the general protection provided to fauna has been varied for invertebrates, other than those identified as requiring special protection, so that people are not placed in the position of committing an offence if they destroy or injure most invertebrate species, including native mosquitoes, flies and spiders.
(1) No. Stygofauna is a classification of fauna that inhabit subterranean water bodies and may be vertebrates or invertebrates. The Wildlife Conservation (Protected Invertebrate Fauna) Notice made by the then Minister for the Environment under section 14(2)(a) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and published in the Government Gazette of 8 April 1994 declared one family of jewel beetles, one genus of ants and four other invertebrate species as protected fauna throughout the State. That left other invertebrate fauna unprotected except in a marine nature reserve or a marine park. The Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 2004 made by the Minister for the Environment and published in the Government Gazette of 6 July 2004 lists all taxa of fauna that are specially protected under section 14(2)(ba) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950, including a number of taxa that are stygofauna. (2) See answer to (1). (3) See answer to (1). The 1994 notice generally exempts invertebrates from protection with the exception of those invertebrates specifically listed as protected. The 2004 notice includes 83 species of invertebrate fauna that are specially protected as threatened fauna, including a number of stygofauna species. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, protected fauna and specially protected fauna may not be taken except under licence or when an open season has been declared. The long-standing policy has been that the general protection provided to fauna has been varied for invertebrates, other than those identified as requiring special protection, so that people are not placed in the position of committing an offence if they destroy or injure most invertebrate species, including native mosquitoes, flies and spiders.
(2) See answer to (1). (3) See answer to (1). The 1994 notice generally exempts invertebrates from protection with the exception of those invertebrates specifically listed as protected. The 2004 notice includes 83 species of invertebrate fauna that are specially protected as threatened fauna, including a number of stygofauna species. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, protected fauna and specially protected fauna may not be taken except under licence or when an open season has been declared. The long-standing policy has been that the general protection provided to fauna has been varied for invertebrates, other than those identified as requiring special protection, so that people are not placed in the position of committing an offence if they destroy or injure most invertebrate species, including native mosquitoes, flies and spiders.
(3) See answer to (1). The 1994 notice generally exempts invertebrates from protection with the exception of those invertebrates specifically listed as protected. The 2004 notice includes 83 species of invertebrate fauna that are specially protected as threatened fauna, including a number of stygofauna species. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act, protected fauna and specially protected fauna may not be taken except under licence or when an open season has been declared. The long-standing policy has been that the general protection provided to fauna has been varied for invertebrates, other than those identified as requiring special protection, so that people are not placed in the position of committing an offence if they destroy or injure most invertebrate species, including native mosquitoes, flies and spiders.

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