Indicator description

Why is it indicative

What does the data show

Data

Related Indicators

Acknowledgment

Indicator description

The species taken from the wild, as commercial harvest, during culling operations or recreationally.

Why is it indicative

The extent of the removal of indigenous organisms from the wild is a measure of the pressure of such activities on biological diversity.

What does the data show

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.

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.

Data

Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

The effects of land-use practices such as pasture development, clearfelling and regeneration of forests and plantation establishment, have greatly favoured this species with many considering it to be in 'plague' proportions. The Regional Forest Agreement Review Background Report 2002 defines brush tail possums as an indigenous pest.

Although the market for skins has declined markedly from 500,000 sold per annum in the late 1970's to fewer than 200 in the year 2000 (RPDC 2002), the market for game meat has expanded. Prior to 1995 no brushtail possum carcases were exported for human consumption. By 2000 there were in excess of 40,000 carcases exported (Hocking 2000).

Commercial harvesting of brushtail possum is restricted to shooters using a rifle and a spotlight. Live trapping in cages is also provided for and must be conducted in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 1993 and must be in accordance with the Code of Practice for the capture, handling, transport and slaughter of brushtail possums.

The following data was obtained from the Parks and Wildlife Service Report on the 'Annual Quota Application for the Culling of Brushtail Possum in Tasmania'.

Long-term records of the annual harvest of brushtail possums provide substantial evidence of the capacity of the population to sustain high levels of harvesting. Between 1976 and 1981 over 250,000 brush possums were taken each year by commercial hunters. (Hocking 2000).

The majority of the brushtail possum harvested in Tasmania is live trapped and is controlled under the Animal Welfare Act 1993 and the Wildlife Regulations 1999.

Commercial harvest statistics for brushtail possums table to be inserted.

Wallaby

Bennetts wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) and Pademelon (Thylogale billardierii)

Wallabies are harvested in Tasmania, to protect crops and pastures and for commercial production of meat and skins.

The following table provides figures on the amount of wallaby meat produced in Tasmania between 1996-00.

insert table

Although the number of commercial licences issued to take wallabies has more than halved the amount of meat produced has remained relatively constant. The production of wallaby game meat produced grew during the early 1990's.

Related Indicators

Acknowledgment

Greg Hocking, Nature Conservation Branch, Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment

Adapted from National State of the Environment Key Indicator 8.1 (Saunders et al. 1998)