❓ Question regarding the sustainability of commercial euro harvesting in WA, particularly concerning population surveys and federal approval. The Minister confirms no plans to recommence commercial harvesting due to cost and disagreement on survey methods.
AnsweredQoN 5569Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the euro (
Macropus robustus
) for which there is no approved wildlife trade management plan, and I ask —
(1) Given the rejection by the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPC) of the Department of Environment and Conservation's (DEC) wildlife trade management plan for the euro, what plans does the Minister now have for developing a sustainable commercial euro harvest in Western Australia?
(2) Does the Minister agree with DSEWPC that that fixed wing aerial surveys cannot provide adequate, accurate and reliable euro population survey results and cannot therefore meet the requirements of the
Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act)?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) If yes to (2), has the Minister asked DEC to find other survey methods for euros?
(5) What other survey methods are under consideration?
(6) Since cessation of the commercial euro harvest in January 2010, whilst still allowing non-commercial shooting, has DEC been monitoring populations of euros?
(7) Has DEC now abandoned the attempt to work with DSEWPC to develop a wildlife trade management plan?
(8) If no to (7), what steps have been taken to develop a plan and when will the plan be finalised?
(9) Is the Minister considering amendments to the restricted open season and closed season areas for kangaroo management?
(10) What are these amendments?
(11) When will they be put in place?
Macropus robustus
) for which there is no approved wildlife trade management plan, and I ask —
(1) Given the rejection by the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPC) of the Department of Environment and Conservation's (DEC) wildlife trade management plan for the euro, what plans does the Minister now have for developing a sustainable commercial euro harvest in Western Australia?
(2) Does the Minister agree with DSEWPC that that fixed wing aerial surveys cannot provide adequate, accurate and reliable euro population survey results and cannot therefore meet the requirements of the
Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act)?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) If yes to (2), has the Minister asked DEC to find other survey methods for euros?
(5) What other survey methods are under consideration?
(6) Since cessation of the commercial euro harvest in January 2010, whilst still allowing non-commercial shooting, has DEC been monitoring populations of euros?
(7) Has DEC now abandoned the attempt to work with DSEWPC to develop a wildlife trade management plan?
(8) If no to (7), what steps have been taken to develop a plan and when will the plan be finalised?
(9) Is the Minister considering amendments to the restricted open season and closed season areas for kangaroo management?
(10) What are these amendments?
(11) When will they be put in place?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(1) There are no plans to recommence a commercial euro harvest in Western Australia.
(2-4) No. Euros have been taken in Western Australia for decades and have been counted in aerial surveys undertaken from fixed wing aircraft for about 30 years. The average commercial harvest of euros over the past 30 years is less than 5,000 per annum. The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is of the view that aerial survey population estimates are sufficiently robust to justify this level of harvest given that euros are widespread and abundant.
(5) DEC proposed a new system of regionally specific aerial survey correction factors for euros, but these have not been supported by the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC).
(6) Yes, DEC continues to monitor euro populations through aerial surveys.
(7-8) DEC has advised that the expense involved in establishing a monitoring and management regime for euros that would meet SEWPaC requirements cannot be justified given the relatively small level of commercial interest in euros.
(9-11) There are no changes proposed, or approved, for restricted open season areas for euros. Some amendments for grey kangaroo restricted open season areas are in the process of being brought into operation. These will be announced at the time of gazettal.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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(2-4) No. Euros have been taken in Western Australia for decades and have been counted in aerial surveys undertaken from fixed wing aircraft for about 30 years. The average commercial harvest of euros over the past 30 years is less than 5,000 per annum. The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is of the view that aerial survey population estimates are sufficiently robust to justify this level of harvest given that euros are widespread and abundant.
(5) DEC proposed a new system of regionally specific aerial survey correction factors for euros, but these have not been supported by the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC).
(6) Yes, DEC continues to monitor euro populations through aerial surveys.
(7-8) DEC has advised that the expense involved in establishing a monitoring and management regime for euros that would meet SEWPaC requirements cannot be justified given the relatively small level of commercial interest in euros.
(9-11) There are no changes proposed, or approved, for restricted open season areas for euros. Some amendments for grey kangaroo restricted open season areas are in the process of being brought into operation. These will be announced at the time of gazettal.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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