Background

Implications

Regional aspects

Assessing and measuring the current situation

Indicators

Management responses

Discussion

Future directions

Related issues

Background

This issue report describes the processes involved in the harvesting of native terrestrial species within Tasmania. Harvesting within this SoE Report refers to the removal either continually or intermittently of Tasmanian native fauna for a consumptive purpose such as for food, fur or for recreational purposes. Harvesting of native fauna may serve another purpose, such as for crop protection. However, fauna culled for crop protection is not included within this issue (see Native Fauna Control and Culling).

The figures reported within this issue are based upon those collected by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment and only relate to those legally killed under a commercial harvesting permit or by recreational shooters. There are no figures available for the number of animals killed/harvested illegally for the wildlife trade or for other purposes.

Since the earliest period of human habitation, Tasmanian's native fauna species have been harvested for food and utilitarian purposes by aboriginal people. Aboriginal people place great cultural significance upon the harvesting of wildlife. This significance continues in muttonbirding on the Bass Strait Islands.

Native species are currently harvested for a number of different purposes, including:

• skins, for leather;
• fur; and
• meat for human consumption and for pet food.

Harvesting is undertaken for commercial purposes and for personal use.

Since European settlement a number of Tasmanian native species have been harvested, some more extensively than others, with predators the first species targeted solely for the purpose of minimising economic loss. The most notable species harvested were the Thylacine and the Tasmanian Emu, which were both hunted to extinction. Species that were harvested in the past include:

• Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalu) was harvested and hunted to extinction (not having been reliably sited since 1936) for its skin, as trophies and to obtain the private and government bounty placed upon its head. The last thylacine bounty was paid in 1909. 'The relative value of the one pound government bounty payment that ran from 1888-1909 may be determined by considering that the salary for the 'tiger man' employed by the Van Diemen's Land Company at Woolnorth in 1903 was only twenty pounds per annum' (Paddle 2000).
• Tasmanian Emu (Dromaeius noaehollandiae diamenensis), harvested for museum and zoo specimens and was considered extinct by 1850.
• Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).
• Ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus).
• Forester Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). 'The forester kangaroo suffered a massive decline in numbers between the early 1800's and the 1950's (Pearse and Wapstra 1988), and now inhabits only 10% of its pre-European range (Hocking 2000). The original decrease in range was due to the shooting of forester kangaroo for human consumption and for dog meat' (Tanner and Hocking 2000).
• Bennetts wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus).
• Pademelon (Thylogale billardierii).
• Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) usually for rugs.
• Spotted tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)
• Giant Freshwater Crayfish (Astocopsis gouldi) is the largest freshwater invertebrate on Earth. There have been recorded specimens reaching more than 5 kilograms (12 pounds) in weight and over 80 cm (2 feet 8 inches) in length. Unfortunately due to uncontrolled harvesting the average size of lobsters now caught in a monitoring program is less than 1kg.
• Freshwater vertebrate fauna: blackfish (Gadopsis marmoratus), Tasmanian whitebait (Lovettia sealii), short finned eel (Anguilla australis), long finned eel (Anguilla reinhardtii), and Australian grayling (Prototroctes maraena).
• Seals: Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus), New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri), and Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina). Seals were harvested extensively in Tasmania during the 1800's for their fur, meat and blubber (oil). Harvesting of the Southern elephant seal which once bred on King Island lead to its extinction in Tasmania.
• Native birds, for the wildlife trade and for meat including: black swans, native ducks, parrots and black cockatoos
• Short tailed shearwater, muttonbirds( Puffinus tenuirostris). Muttonbird harvesting has long been practiced by the indigenous inhabitants of Tasmania particularly on the off shore islands. This cultural practice was instrumental in the gaining of aboriginal land rights over a number of the Bass Strait Islands. During World War II muttonbirds were harvested and sold in Britain as 'squab in aspic'.
• Cape Barren Geese (Cereopsis novaehollandiae). The numbers of Cape Barren Geese are higher now than at any other time since European settlement. Conversion of land to pasture has increased the quality and quantity of food available in areas where the geese traditionally breed and shelter. A small egg harvesting program is conducted on an annual basis to decrease the goose population.

The species currently harvested in Tasmania are:

• Brushtail possum;
• Wallabies -Bennetts wallaby and Tasmanian pademelon;
• Muttonbird;
• Cape Barren Geese (very limited numbers of eggs are harvested to decrease population numbers); and
• Freshwater vertebrate fauna, particularly blackfish and short-finned eels.

The harvesting of possum, wallaby and muttonbird is considered in further detail in the indicators of this issue report.

Implications

Social

Harvesting of native fauna is an extremely contentious and at times divisive issue. Although seen as essential by some ecologists and landholders to manage overpopulation of certain species in some areas and to maintain productivity of agricultural activities, animal welfare organisations and other like-minded groups are strongly opposed to the harvesting of native fauna for any purpose.

Economic

Until the 1970's there was a large market for the skins of native wildlife, with over 500,000 skins from Tasmanian native fauna harvested per annum (RPDC 2002). The number of skins traded has now fallen to less than a few hundred, with a lack of demand and market development as perhaps the main reasons. The major use of harvested native fauna is now for meat, either for dog food or for human consumption.

The size of the native fauna harvesting industry is relatively small with an economic value estimated at less than $1 million (Greg Hocking pers comm).

With the reduction in the number of recreational shooters, harvesting for personal consumption has also declined.

In terms of commercial processing there are only 2 major operations in Tasmania, with a limited number of animals also processed by local butchers.

Placing an economic value upon native species has been mooted as a method of assisting in their conservation. If people place a value upon a species then it is argued there is greater incentive for people to protect it and economic returns to be used in species management.

Environmental

Besides muttonbirding, harvesting of native species is a by-product of culling operations, which are undertaken specifically to reduce the population of a certain species in an area, for crop protection or for ecological reasons.

Harvesting of native species has had significant effects upon Tasmania's biodiversity in the past, and may well be continuing to effect the environment in the present.

As a result of current land management practices, populations of a few species, such as wallabies and possums have greatly expanded due to the increase in available habitat and food resources. The greater majority of native species however have not benefited from current land management practices.

Regional aspects

Wallabies and possums are usually harvested near the boundary between agricultural and forested land.

Muttonbirds are legally harvested from a number of small Bass Strait Islands

The majority of the processing of native fauna occurs in two locations in Tasmania at Brighton and Georgetown but a limited amount of processing is undertaken by local butchers.

Assessing and measuring the current situation

The Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment issues commercial and non-commercial licences for harvesting or culling of certain native species, providing information on which species may be harvested under permit. Information is also available for which legally harvested species have management plans. There is little knowledge on illegal harvesting of fauna in Tasmania and it's impacts on the biodiversity in Tasmania.

Surveys by the Parks and Wildlife Service to monitor the populations of some native fauna including Bennetts wallaby, Tasmanian pademelon, brushtail possum, shearwaters, Cape Barren geese and wild duck are carried out on an annual basis to assess the impact and to determine the size of the allowable quota for harvesting of these species.

From this monitoring program population estimates for species are calculated. The population trends for three of the harvested species in Tasmania between 1996-01 are as follows (RPDC 2002):

• Brushtailed possum-stable
• Bennetts wallaby-stable
• Tasmanian pademelon-stable

The population trend estimates for brushtail possums are presented in the Possum Numbers Indicator within the 'Indicator' section below.

While it is recognised that new data is available for several species harvested in Tasmania, information presented in this SoE Report has been restricted due to time constraints and will be updated in the ongoing work program.

Indicators

Native Species Harvested - at a glance

• Continued in depth

• Export of skins from native species such as wallaby and brushtail possum have declined dramatically in the past ten years, being replaced with harvesting for meat production.
   
• In 2000:
   
• 41,003 brushtail possums were harvested for their meat;
• 61,642 kilograms of wallaby meat was produced; and
• Data for other native species harvested in Tasmania (e.g. muttonbirds and ducks) were unable to be obtained and analysised in time for this SoE Report, but will be included in the future as part of the on-going work program.
   

Number of Species Harvested with Management Plans - at a glance

• Continued in depth

Five Tasmanian native species are harvested under permit including, the Brushtail possum, Bennetts wallaby, Cape Barron Goose eggs, Pademelon and Muttonbird. All but the Pademelons have some form of management plan in place.

Receational Licences Issued for the Shooting and Taking of Native Species - at a glance

• Continued in depth

• In the five years from 1997 to 2002 the Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment isued approximately 35,000 licences for the taking of native species.
   
• Over 70% of all licences issued were for the taking of wallabies.
   
• The number of permits issued for all species declined by 40% from 1997 to 2002.
   

Possum Numbers - at a glance

• Continued in depth

Possum (Trichosurus vulpecular) densities are highest in the low rainfall districts of central and south-east Tasmania.

Management responses

Harvesting and culling of native fauna is managed through a number of pieces of legislation including:

• the Nature Conservation Act 2002;
   
• the Animal Welfare Act 1993, which amongst other things prohibits the use of leghold traps or snares; and
   
• the Wildlife Regulations 1999, which controls the taking of wallabies with chemicals, poisons, bows and arrows and spears. The latter also imposes the following restrictions on the use of firearms for taking of native fauna.
   

The Animal Welfare Act 1993 establishes the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee which is responsible for advising the Minister for Primary Industries Water and Environment on all animal welfare matters of importance to the State.

Commercial harvesting of native fauna for meat including their shooting, handling, and transport must be carried out by accredited operators in accordance with the Meat Hygiene Act 1986. Meat harvested for the overseas market is controlled by the Commonwealth Export Control Act 1982.

Overseas trade in native wildlife is controlled by the Commonwealth Government through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Act requires a wildlife trade management plan to export native fauna products, and will only be permitted if harvesting is ecologically sustainable and the animals are killed humanely with minimal pain and suffering.

Licences for the taking of native fauna are issued by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) and are either commercial or non-commercial. DPIWE regulates harvesting through the proclamation of seasons, bag limits and the supervision of recreational hunting.

The Tasmanian Government has developed management programs for species to be harvested and has established a quota allocation for harvested species. Surveys by the Parks and Wildlife Service to monitor the populations of native fauna including Bennetts wallaby, Tasmanian pademelon, brushtail possum, shearwaters, Cape Barren geese and wild duck are carried out on an annual basis to assist in the management and harvesting of these species.

Property-based game management plans now cover over 330 properties in Tasmania to assist in the management of recreational hunting and ensure that hunting is carried out on a sustainable basis. Hunting records are maintained on these properties.

Wildlife enforcement officers undertake measuring of compliance with relevant legislation and the results of compliance activity concerning brushtail possums are shown below.

Compliance activity of brushtail possum harvesting table to be inserted.

Discussion

The low price paid for skins combined with a lack of market development have resulted in a situation where the number of animals culled or killed per year [link to culling issue] far exceeds those processed for consumption, either for skins or food.

From the figures presented above there appears to be a steady increase in demand for meat from native fauna, particularly brushtail possum.

The amount of native fauna processed for human consumption is insignificant when compared to that produced by Tasmania's agricultural industry, sheep and cattle.

Future directions

Directions for sustainable management of fauna harvesting in Tasmania include the following:

• Ongoing monitoring of native fauna populations to ensure harvesting and recreational hunting is carried out on a sustainable basis.
   
• Management plans be developed for all native species harvested and that these plans be reviewed at least once every five years.
   
• The phasing-out of lead shot for duck hunting over a three-year period as recommended by the Game Management Liaison Committee in November 2002.
   
• The forthcoming completion by the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) of the animal welfare standard for wallaby hunting for adoption by the Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment.
   
• The need for greater commercial use of harvested wildlife through improved meat hygiene standards and appropriate management planning to comply with Commonwealth export requirements.
   
• Potential options be considered for developing uses for the native animals currently culled and not harvested.
   

Tasmania Together and the RMPS

Relevant Tasmania Together goals and standards for 'Biodiversity' are listed in the linked file. The Tasmania Together Progress Board reported on progress toward targets for benchmarks set (Tasmania Together Progress Board 2003). Indicators, targets and baseline data are available in the latest Progress Report June 2003. Further information, including progress report updates, is available from Tasmania Together.

Involvement of the community, and the fair and orderly use of resources are also fundamental principles of the RMPS. The RMPS objectives have been developed to advance the principles of sustainable development.

Related issues