BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES AND SECTOR-SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee has considered in detail the facilitation of three selected sectors - the cultivation of native plants (horticulture and nursery sectors), ecotourism and aquaculture. Its conclusions are described in Chapter 12.
More generally, the Committee considers that it is appropriate for the extent and nature of facilitation to respond to the sector's stage of development. Accordingly it recommends the following general forms of support.
Recommendation 9
That facilitation of priority sectors (being cultivation of native plants - horticulture and nursery sectors, ecotourism and aquaculture) be based on the following principles for each of the following three stages of industry development:
a) exploratory (that is the `good idea' stage) - support through targeted research on basic biological needs and characteristics and potential environmental impacts and markets - with industry;
b) developing - support through targeted research on production techniques - with industry and clear regulatory controls; and
c) mature - assist with clear regulatory controls.
For most sectors, export markets are an important, if not vital, component of ensuring the viability of utilisation activity.
Recommendation 10
That Victorian management systems for the priority sectors of cultivation of native plants (horticulture and nursery sectors) and aquaculture be of a quality suitable for Commonwealth export requirements and that such export accreditation be sought.
As noted in Chapter 9, the basis for granting access to the genetic resources of Australian native flora and fauna is ill defined and inconsistent across the States. Exclusive access to particular biological resources of some States is being granted for species that are not exclusive to that State. The regulatory mechanism to implement a consistent approach could occur through a centralised `single desk' system.
Relevant codes of practice, licensing provisions and the range of species that may be taken or kept vary between States. In Victoria, import-export permits are required to provide the opportunity for checking that each State's requirements are being met by individuals.
Recommendation 11
11.1 That national strategies be developed to ensure a consistent approach to the granting of access rights to the genetic material of Australian native species, and to this end, the Victorian Government actively pursue a common approach through the Australian New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and other appropriate joint ministerial councils.
11.2 That the Victorian Government develop bilateral/multilateral agreements relating to the use of the State's natural flora and fauna resources, in accordance with national strategies.
11.3 That the Victorian Government support and pursue consistency of codes of practice and regulations in the relevant national forums and explore mutual accreditation of the regulatory controls of other States.
Encouragement of Ecotourism/Recreation Activity Based on Wild Resources, Including Those Forms That Are Facility-dependent
Recommendation 12
That ecotourism and recreational activity be undertaken in accordance with the following principles:
a) the level of human activity be within the carrying capacity of the natural resource;
b) preference be given to education-focussed activity;
c) the siting and scale of facilities should not adversely impact on the natural resources;
d) access rights involve a contribution to the maintenance of the resource.
Recommendation 13
13.1 That `conservation of habitat' be considered as a legitimate form of land use or `business' - and that tax concessions for its management be pursued.
13.2 That the State Government encourage local municipalities to promote rate rebates for lands subject to Trust for Nature covenants or registered with the Land for Wildlife or similar schemes.
Recommendation 14
That where an ecotourism or recreation business operates from a private property that encompasses, or in conjunction with adjoining property under formal co-management arrangement encompasses, the entire `home territory' of the wild population of a species, provision may be made by way of licence or permit for the trading of species to stock the property or to dispose of surplus animals.
Encourage Cultivation of Native Plants
Recommendation 15
That cultivation of native plants, and in particular the floriculture and horticulture/nursery sectors be undertaken in accordance with the following principles:
a) activity be on land previously cleared;
b) propagation practices avoid genetic pollution (the use of sterile cultivars should be pursued in particularly sensitive areas);
c) where relevant, form part of a diversified operation (and ideally meet other objectives, such as soil-erosion control and shelter belts).
Recommendation 16
That locally indigenous plants be actively promoted in extension programs for use in saline planting, recharge-area plantings and soil-erosion control programs, and be made a condition of government grant programs.
Currently there is legislative provision for the legal ownership of timber-producing trees to be separated from the ownership of the property on which they grow.
Recommendation 17
That legislative provision be made for the separation of the ownership of all plants from the ownership of the land - especially to facilitate plantations of slow-growing species and varieties.
Encourage Aquaculture of Native Species
Recommendation 18
That aquaculture be undertaken in accordance with the following principles:
a) activity be undertaken in closed systems - with no release of wild specimens;
b) material for stocking of Victorian waterways be obtained only from progeny that is genetically sourced from Victoria;
c) existing saline waters be used where practical.
The Committee considers that the National Translocation of Live Aquatic Organisms Policy is relevant and should be applied to the translocation of species outside their drainage basin of origin. It acknowledges that this policy may require further research into the original distribution of Victorian native fish. While outside the current Terms of Reference, the Committee notes that the most significant translocation issue facing Victoria's freshwater systems is the introduction of exotic fish being brought into Australia for the aquaria trade. It believes that the relevant Commonwealth agencies limit or control such importation.
Provide Opportunity for the Farming of Other Species of Animal
Recommendation 19
That opportunities for the farming of other native-animal species be undertaken in accordance with following principles:
a) stock is obtained from pre-existing captive populations, or a special case has been made for stock to be obtained by ranching or wild-harvest (see Recommendation 20);
b) welfare needs can be met;
c) agreed codes of practice are in place prior to commencement of operation;
d) pastures are based primarily on native pasture;
e) total stocking rates are within land capability;
f) the `home territory' of the farmed population to be totally within the farming property, or where the `home territory' is larger than a single property, within adjoining properties under co-management;
g) where relevant, production forms part of a diversified operation (and ideally meet other objectives, such as soil-erosion control, shelter belts, and nutrient cycling).
Permit Ranching and, in Special Circumstances, Wild-harvest to the Extent Needed to Establish Cultivation or Farming
Recommendation 20
That ranching and wild-harvest only be permitted to establish cultivation or farming where undertaken in accordance with the following principles and conditions:
a) genetic resources are not available from a pre-existing captive population;
b) a business plan documents the bona fides of the proposed cultivation or farming operation;
c) a thorough assessment of total populations of targeted species is undertaken at the expense of the proponent;
d) take is subject to a sunset clause, or at least regular review;
e) if it has been established that the initial rate proposed will not cause adverse ecological impacts, with take only to continue as long as regular and thorough monitoring indicates that there is no risk of unacceptable ecological impacts; and
f) operations minimise by-catch and incidental damage and pose no threat to the sustainability of non-target species.
All species that are subject to consumptive use of wild stocks should be subject to management plans. Highest priority is for the production of such plans for `listed' species that are proposed for utilisation (for example action plans under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988). Such plans may cover an individual taxon, a grouping of taxa or a community. For small-scale utilisation, more limited management statements would suffice.
Recommendation 21
21.1 That management plans be prepared for all native species that are subject to consumptive utilisation of wild stocks and that any such utilisation only be permitted on the basis of compatibility with such plans. All management plans to be based on population assessments and be subject to regular review.
21.2 That utilisation not be permitted for any `listed' species unless an action plan has been adopted and the utilisation is consistent with that action plan. Priority to be given to the preparation of action plans for species identified as having potential for utilisation.
Permit Ecotourism/Recreation Activity Based on Captive Resources
Recommendation 22
That ecotourism/recreation activity based on captive resources be undertaken in accordance with following principles:
a) registration of pets and restriction of numbers in domestic situations in line with existing provisions for domestic cats and dogs administered by local government;
b) all trade be subject to the provision of approved information on the health and welfare of the specimen, regulatory requirements and sources of additional advice;
c) only animals that are proven as suitable for captivity permitted to be kept in captivity
Recommendation 23
That consideration be given to permitting public zoos to make wildlife that is in excess to their requirements available to wildlife parks or licensed enthusiasts.
Avoid Wild-harvest of Plants and Animals - Unless Special Circumstances
While the Committee does not generally support the encouragement of the wild-harvest sector, it considers that if a plant or animal is to be taken or killed in response to other legal requirements, or as an indirect consequence of other legal activity, then it has no `in-principle' objection to such biota being put to some use.
Recommendation 24
That wild-harvest be permitted in the following circumstances:
a) if the plant or animal is being destroyed because of a legal purpose (that is for control or other legal harvesting, for example for timber production) and the level of take is independently assessed as being no greater than which would otherwise be killed;
b) to respond to Aboriginal cultural needs/desires.
Recommendation 25
That `salvage' wild-harvest be subject to the following principles:
a) the salvage be undertaken by an appropriately licensed person and, where the salvage involves vertebrate animals, be undertaken in a manner that meets welfare codes of practice requirements;
b) the biota are `tagged' or otherwise traceable from the field to the producer;
c) the level of take is independently assessed as being no greater than that which would otherwise be killed during the primary operation;
d) occupational health and safety requirements are met.
Recommendation 26
That the Committee supports in principle the salvaging of tree ferns from logging coupes, subject to further research being undertaken to establish the ecological sustainability and operational viability of this action.
The Committee concluded that there are several difficulties with using kangaroos killed as part of control programs as the basis of a kangaroo-products industry in Victoria. These relate to:
a) the relatively low kangaroo densities and consequently high costs of shooting and transporting kangaroos in Victoria;
b) small total numbers of kangaroos culled in Victoria compared with other States;
c) the above factors increasing problems associated with erratic supply;
d) potential for excessive pressure to increase the cull and make it more regular in line with industry need rather than population-control prerogatives; and
e) strong resistance from some sections of the community to such harvesting.
The Committee noted, however, that animals killed as part of kangaroo control programs in Victoria could provide the processing industry with a supplementary supply of carcasses to complement those supplied from interstate.
The Committee agrees with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment's suggestion that any commercial utilisation of kangaroos arising from control programs should be preceded by an assessment of community support3 and:
An assessment of the number of kangaroos available for sustained harvesting in Victoria from private and leasehold land should be completed. This would assist in better determination of the impact on commercial industry viability of full cost recovery of a management/monitoring program, and the potential impact on kangaroo populations. 4
Recommendation 27
That while the Committee does not support the development of a kangaroo industry based on the harvest of the Victorian wild populations of kangaroos, it recommends that an assessment be made to determine whether the costs of the necessary management and monitoring systems associated with the commercial utilisation of kangaroos killed in bona fide control programs (that is licensing and tagging systems and assessment of the level of take being no greater than that otherwise being killed during the primary operation) can be undertaken on a cost-recovery basis. Such an assessment to be undertaken in conjunction with and at the cost of industry.
The Committee notes that for a number of species that are killed for control (those that are declared `pests' or declared `unprotected') there is no requirement for population assessment or recording of the numbers taken.
Recommendation 28
That any native species currently declared or proposed for declaration as `pests' under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 or `unprotected' under the Wildlife Act 1975 be subject to baseline and/or regular review based on population and damage assessments and that the taking of any such specimens be subject to a notification process to enable monitoring of the level of take.
Hunters are permitted to take designated game species and have them mounted, but not take them out of the country. This is because Victoria does not have a management program in place that has been approved under the Commonwealth legislation governing the export of native animals and their products.5
Recommendation 29
That accreditation be sought for Victoria's current management program to permit the export of game trophies.
High-tech Breeding/Cultivation/Farming
Recommendation 30
That the screening and breeding of biota, and micro-organisms in particular, be permitted; with formal regulatory mechanisms actively developed to ensure the integrity of biodiversity in the wild and to provide for clear intellectual property rights, royalties or agreements.
