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The Territory Government today welcomed approved changes to their Saltwater Crocodile Management Program that will ensure crocodile numbers are sustainable, address community safety issues, and provide economic development opportunities.

 

Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, today announced approval of the Territory’s new Crocodile Management Program for the next five years, except for commercial safari hunting.

 

Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Karl Hampton, who spoke to the Federal Minister today about the new program, said the approval was a good result.

 

“The Territory Government has been given the green light to a plan that controls crocodile populations to minimise their risk to the community, while ensuring their numbers are sustainable and not threatened,” Mr Hampton said.

 

“We’re disappointed that commercial safari hunting wasn’t approved, but overall this aspect of the Crocodile Management Program was not critical to population control or the existing commercial use.

 

“The Territory Government still believes that crocodile safari hunting can provide for economic development opportunities for Indigenous Territorians and we will continue working towards approval for safaris in the future,” he said.

 

The Commonwealth approval of the new Crocodile Management Program will allow for:

 

• continued exports of crocodile products
• an increase in crocodile egg harvesting from 25 000 to 50 000 eggs per year
• an allowance to increase egg harvest quotas to 60 000 and then 70 000 per year if population monitoring justifies an increase
• harvesting of up to 400 juveniles, 500 hatchlings and 500 adults per year.

 

“We’ll now be communicating these changes to the crocodile industry in the Top End and ensuring we prepare to implement them,” Mr Hampton said.

 

“This new Crocodile Management Program strikes the right balance between sustainability, community safety and economic development.

 

“Territorians have provided input into this plan through a public consultation period earlier this year,” he said.

 

Contact: Nicole Manison 0448 693 279

 

Related files:
Hampton 021009 Croc Management Plan.pdf ( 279.47 kb )