Environment and Resource Management

Commercial harvesting of kangaroos and wallaroos in Queensland

The Department's Commercial Macropod Management Program administers the commerical harvest of macropods in Queensland. There are three main aspects to the program:

Which species?

Three species can be commercially harvested in Queensland:

These commercially harvested species are abundant over a broad area of Queensland and Australia. None of these species is listed as threatened under Queensland or Commonwealth legislation. They are listed as least concern wildlife under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006.

Western grey kangaroos Macropus fuliginosus cannot be harvested in Queensland.

Did you know?
Macropod means big foot; macropods are marsupials in the family Macropodidae. For the purposes of this web page the term macropod will be used when referring to the three commercially harvested species.

Sustainable harvest

The national context

Macropods are harvested in five Australian states: New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland, Queensland having the highest commercial harvesting figures. Macropods have been commercially harvested in Australia for more than a century and the annual harvest usually exceeds one million.

Commercially harvested macropods are used to produce high quality leather, fur and meat products.

The Australian Government controls the export of wildlife products. To ensure macropods are conserved, and that any commercial harvesting of macropods is ecologically sustainable, each state is required to prepare a Wildlife Trade Management Plan under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 before export is allowed.

The Wildlife Trade Management Plan for Export ─ Commercially Harvested Macropods (2008-2012) (PDF)* describes:

Australian Government information on the commercial harvest of macropods can be obtained from the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.

The Queensland context

The Department's Commercial Macropod Management Program administers harvesting in Queensland with regard to the following:

The overall goal of the program is to provide sustainable use and conservation of the species, as well as their habitats, in accordance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

Population monitoring

The commercial harvest of macropods in Queensland is subject to measures that ensure that the harvest is sustainable. These include annual aerial surveys to estimate the population sizes, quotas set each year as a proportion of the population size, and ongoing monitoring of the harvest to ensure that quotas are not exceeded.

Macropod populations are affected by factors such as rainfall, which influences food and water availability, harvesting and predation. Since 1992, state-wide numbers of the commercially harvested macropod species generally increased to a peak around 2001, associated with above-average rainfall in the late 1990s. Numbers of all three species declined sharply following drought in 2001-2002 and have remained around this density. The table below shows that the recent estimates of macropod populations in Queensland are similar to those of the early 1990s and above the low of 1995.

Year Red kangaroo
(millions)		 Eastern grey kangaroo (millions) Common wallaroo (millions) Total macropods (millions)

1992

3.14

10.40

2.14

15.68

1993

2.96

8.36

1.43

12.75

1994

3.22

6.31

1.20

10.73

1995

2.79

5.50

1.18

9.47

1996

4.39

6.17

1.12

11.68

1997

3.05

6.47

1.50

11.02

1998

4.87

9.44

2.66

16.97

1999

5.44

11.10

5.25

21.79

2000

8.94

17.40

5.81

32.15

2001

8.85

22.89

5.83

37.57

2002

5.54

15.09

2.23

22.86

2003

3.75

9.25

2.39

15.39

2004

2.67

7.78

2.47

12.93

2005

3.29

8.20

2.70

14.19

2006

3.72

7.49

1.95

13.16

2007

3.43

7.31

2.34

13.08

2008

4.55

7.33

2.74

14.62

2009

5.01

7.72

2.41

15.14
2010

3.60

6.60

1.90

12.10

Undertaking regular and ongoing monitoring of macropod populations

From 1984 until 1992, annual fixed-wing aircraft surveys were used to monitor trends in Queensland macropod populations. Since 1991, the department has conducted an annual program of aerial surveys by helicopter, which provides more accurate and precise estimates of populations, to directly monitor the three commercially harvested species.

These surveys are used to obtain density and population estimates, to set harvest quotas. The methodology employed in these surveys is broadly accepted by the scientific community, the Australian Government and the Queensland Government. The annual surveys occur over a three-month period in representative areas across Queensland.

Animal welfare

The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes prescribes how to humanely harvest macropods and minimise the potential for pain and suffering.

The code sets an achievable standard of humane conduct and is the minimum required of persons harvesting kangaroos and wallabies. Adherence to the code is a requirement under the Wildlife Trade Management Plan for Export – Commercially Harvested Macropods 2008-2012 and ensures humane take requirements are met under the Nature Conservation (Macropod) Conservation Plan 2005. Additionally, in order to obtain a Commercial Wildlife Harvesting Licence (Macropods), harvesters must complete an accreditation program through the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE that includes a written test and an independent firearms accreditation course to demonstrate their competency to meet the code.

Quotas and harvest zones

Since 1975, commercial harvest quotas have been set in Queensland identifying the number of each macropod species that can be harvested. The Minister for Environment approves commercial quotas for the state annually and submits them to the Commonwealth Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities for endorsement in the form of a quota submission.

2012 Quota Submission for Commercially Harvested Macropods (PDF, 1.5M)*

2011 Quota Submission for Commercially Harvested Macropods (PDF, file unavailable)*

Quotas in Queensland are set between ten and 20 per cent of the estimated population for each species, with regard to:

These sustainable-use harvest proportions are based on scientific research and modelling and are currently accepted by the scientific community, the Queensland Government and the Australian Government for determining state quota limits.

In the past the quotas for each species were set for the whole state of Queensland. Under this system, the harvest was sustainable on a state-wide basis but it was possible harvesting pressure was focused on particular regions of the state. Since 2003, to address this issue, quotas have been set for each species for four harvest zones:

New harvest zones for 2012

Prior to 2012 the harvest zone boundaries were based on the local government boundaries prior to amalgamation. Local government boundaries are used to define the harvest zone boundaries because:

Following the local government amalgamations, the harvest zone boundaries no longer matched local government areas (LGA). 

Changing the harvest zone boundaries in 2012 to reflect current LGA boundaries will allow for an improved and simpler system for the management of macropod harvesting in Queensland.

The department has redefined the harvest zone boundaries for 2012 based on the current LGA boundaries. 

From 2012 onward the following commercial harvest zones are:

Central harvest zone

The central harvest zone consists of the areas of the following local governments -

Balonne, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall, Tambo, Bulloo, Flinders, Goondiwindi, Longreach, Maranoa, McKinlay, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, Richmond, Western Downs and Winton.

Eastern harvest zone

The eastern harvest zone consists of the areas of the following local governments -

Banana, Bundaberg, Burdekin, Central Highlands, Charters Towers, Croydon, Etheridge, Gladstone, Isaac, Lockyer Valley, Mackay, North Burnett, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Whitsunday.

Western harvest zone

The western harvest zone consists of the areas of the following local governments -

Boulia, Burke, Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Diamantina and Mount Isa.

Commercial Macropod Harvest Zones Map 2003 to 2011 (PDF, 544K)*

Commercial Macropod Harvest Zones 2012 (PDF, 1.0M)*

Harvest period

Each year a Harvest Period Notice is made by the department chief executive that defines the start and end dates for the macropod harvest period, the sizes of macropods that may be taken and the shires in Queensland where each species may be harvested.

The annual harvest can be reviewed at any time to consider changing circumstances, such as the effects of drought or disease. Based on such information, or if the harvest approaches the annual quota, the harvest period may be closed.

Permits

You need a licence, permit or authority to harvest macropods, whether for recreation or commercial use. In Queensland, DERM issues these.

Commercial harvesters need a Commercial Wildlife Harvesting Licence. Prior to applying, new applicants must complete a TAFE training course and a firearms competency test.

You cannot harvest macropods in protected areas, such as national parks or in state forests.

Recreational harvesters can only use the macropods that are taken for their personal use and have annual limits.

Commercial harvesters must sell harvested animals to licensed dealers (processors) who then sell meat and skins within Australia and overseas.

Forms and information sheets

Harvesters

Dealers

Fees

Macropod tags (500)

Tags are available to purchase in lots of 50.   Fee for a macropod skin or carcass tag - for a commercial wildlife harvesting licence (each lot of 500 tags), pricing –

Until the end of 31 December 2011

On and from 1 January 2012

Shooter Licence 

Commercial wildlife harvesting licence for macropods, pricing –

Until the end of 31 December 2011

On and from 1 January 2012

Dealer Licence (1 year or less)

Commercial wildlife licence for dead macropods, pricing -

Until the end of 31 December 2011

On and from 1 January 2012

Dealer Licence (more than 1 year)

Commercial wildlife licence for dead macropods, pricing -

Until the end of 31 December 2011

On and from 1 January 2012

Mobile Dealer Licence 

Commercial wildlife licence (using a mobile facility)

Shooter Return Book

Record and return book for holder of commercial wildlife harvesting licence for macropods, pricing –

Until the end of 31 December 2011

On and from 1 January 2012

Dealer Return Book 

Record and return book for holder of commercial wildlife licence, or commercial wildlife licence (mobile) for macropods, pricing –

Until the end of 31 December 2011

On and from 1 January 2012

Single movement advice 

Movement advice for moving or selling wildlife -

Electronic movement advice – free

Movement advice for moving or selling wildlife - online form only -

Change of licence details (eg: change of name or change of person in charge) 

Amendment of a permit which is not for camping (other than a change of address) for each amendment granted under the Nature Conservation Act - 

Tags

Example of tags

Example of tags

Each macropod that is harvested in Queensland for commercial or non-commercial purposes is required to be tagged.

Tags are colour specific for each species and show the following information:

A correct tag must be attached to each animal harvested.

Harvest update

The table below provides information on the number of harvesting tags issued and reported harvest for the 2011 harvesting period.

Please note: due to the combined time periods that occur between harvest submission of operational returns and data entry, the harvest figures stated here may differ from the actual harvest.

2011 Quotas Tags issued to 15 December 2011 Reported harvest to 15 December 2011
Tag Categories by Zone   Number of tags % of quota Number of Macropods % of quota
Central Zone:          
Eastern grey kangaroo 772,000 535,450 69% 441,424 57%
Red kangaroo 620,700 337,850 54% 262,384 42%
Common wallaroo 212,850 212,850 100% 181,555 85%
Eastern Zone:          
Eastern grey kangaroo 148,350 68,950 46% 43,610 29%
Red kangaroo 8550 8550 100% 4338 51%
Common wallaroo 35,850 15,300 43% 6974 19%
Western Zone:          
Red kangaroo 16,500 16,500 100% 11,538 70%
Common wallaroo 12,450 1650 13% 711 6%

Trade

All macropods must be sold before the end of the harvest period to a holder of a Commercial Wildlife Licence (macropods).

Restrictions apply to storing and moving kangaroo products.

Anyone keeping or using macropod skins or meat must be licensed. Records must be kept on all macropods entering the trade to enable harvesting trends to be monitored.

A minimum carcass weight and skin size is set each year in the harvest period notice. The minimum sizes are set to ensure that only mature kangaroos are harvested. The aim of current size limits is that an animal would have a live body weight of approximately 20 kg and has, therefore, spent time as a breeding adult in the population.

Trade gradings apply to the size of macropod skins for each species.

For eastern grey kangaroos, red kangaroos and common wallaroos:

Key documents

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Last updated 17 January 2012

Wildlife permits and licences

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