Crocodile Management Manual
Estuarine Crocodile Management Manual
In November 2008 the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation The Hon Andrew McNamara MP requested a review of the Environmental Protection Agency's crocodile management program. This involved an internal review of the crocodile management policies, procedures and practices, and an external, independent audit of the entire crocodile management program.
In February 2009, the Minister announced that the recommendations coming from these reviews would be adopted. These recommendations have now been incorporated into a new Estuarine Crocodile Management Manual. This manual provides a 'one stop shop' informing the department staff of the revised crocodile management policies, delegations, guidelines and procedures that are now in place.
The Estuarine Crocodile Management Manual essentially sets out how the department delivers the Nature Conservation (Estuarine Crocodile) Conservation Plan 2007 and the Management Program for Crocodylus porosus in Queensland 2007 - 2017, on the ground. These documents were not amended as a result of the review.
The Manual is an internal, operational document designed to provide direction for the department staff involved in crocodile management. However, in the interests of transparency and clarity, a summary of its key elements is provided here for the information of the public.
These revised policies and procedures reflect the Queensland Government's ongoing commitment to public safety as a priority, while ensuring that the social, economic and environmental aspects of crocodile management are considered.
The key elements outlined in the Estuarine Crocodile Management Manual are:
- Clearly defined procedures and practices for assessing and dealing with 'crocodiles of concern' and their removal from the wild.
- Clearly defined delegations, procedures, roles and responsibilities for the department staff when responding to crocodile incidents. This is supported by a training program and technical manual to ensure the department staff can carry out their tasks effectively and safely.
- A documented risk management framework that guides the department staff when making any decision regarding crocodile management, including assessing whether a crocodile is a 'crocodile of concern'. The risk assessment procedures comply with Australian and New Zealand Standards.
- Clear delegations and strict protocols regarding when a crocodile can be released to the wild and who can approve it. For example, no crocodile can be released to the wild for research purposes without the approval of the Director-General of the department.
- In some circumstances, the manual provides for the release to the wild of a crocodile provided that: it was not a 'crocodile of concern'; that its release site is no more than 5 km from its point of capture; that a documented risk assessment has been undertaken and indicates that the release is appropriate, and; that executive level approval is sought and given for the release.
- A communication strategy to raise community awareness of how to be safe in crocodile country and how crocodiles are managed in Queensland.
- An information management system that will keep accurate, up to date records about crocodiles in a centralised database.
- The 'CrocWatch' website, which provides information to the public about crocodile sightings and how the department is responding.
- A research program identifying priority research activities required to support an effective crocodile management program.
Last updated: 18 February 2009