Review of the management of feral animals and their impact on ...

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In South Australia, between 30 <strong>and</strong> 120 small populations <strong>of</strong> carp have been successfully eradicated, but <strong>the</strong>se mostly have occurred outside <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s (Hall 1988). A high priority has been given to <strong>the</strong> eradication <strong>of</strong> carp when <strong>the</strong>y are detected in new areas, such as <strong>the</strong> Cooper Basin in <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> State. Wetl<strong>and</strong> <strong>management</strong> frequently includes measures to control carp <strong>and</strong> is <strong>of</strong>ten undertaken by non-government agencies such as community groups. General control techniques Carp are presently controlled mainly with chemical agents, commercial harvesting, recreational fishing, electro fishing, nets <strong>and</strong> traps <strong>and</strong> exclusion devices. Whilst <strong>the</strong>ses options may reduce carp numbers, <strong>and</strong> may even eradicate <strong>the</strong>m from isolated areas, o<strong>the</strong>r options are needed <strong>and</strong> being explored for more widespread control. Environmental rehabilitation Environmental rehabilitation is being seen as one way <strong>of</strong> improving habitat quality to favour native fish. By potentially increasing native fish numbers, particularly large predators, predation pressure on carp will be increased. Biocontrol The use <strong>of</strong> viral agents for biocontrol has also been considered, however a suitable, species-specific lethal virus has yet to be identified for carp. If such a virus were found, it would have to undergo intense scrutiny <strong>and</strong> overcome potential public outcry before being released. Biocontrol has one major advantage in that it can be <strong>the</strong> most cost-effective <strong>management</strong> technique if successful. A self-disseminating biocontrol agent can require only minimal ongoing investment once successfully established in <strong>the</strong> carp population. A classic example <strong>of</strong> this is <strong>the</strong> myxoma virus in rabbits, discussed elsewhere in this report. One potential virus that has recently been discovered is <strong>the</strong> Koi Herpes Virus. This virus has decimated both wild <strong>and</strong> cultured stock <strong>of</strong> carp in areas ranging from <strong>the</strong> middle-east to Europe. The new Invasive Animals CRC plans to conduct trials into <strong>the</strong> suitability <strong>of</strong> this virus as a biocontrol agent. Genetic manipulation Ano<strong>the</strong>r potential approach to carp control is <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> genetic manipulation. Genetic technology <strong>of</strong>fers potential opportunities to succeed where traditional approaches have failed. One potential genetic technique is <strong>the</strong> ‘daughterless technology’. Daughterless technology works by altering population sex ratio towards males whilst maintaining <strong>the</strong> fitness <strong>of</strong> individuals. The technology is hereditary <strong>and</strong> passed on to <strong>the</strong> male only <strong>of</strong>fspring, thus disseminating through <strong>the</strong> carp population. As <strong>the</strong> trait spreads through <strong>the</strong> population, fewer breeding females exist <strong>and</strong> population recruitment declines. The population <strong>the</strong>n steadily declines before eventually crashing. The research is currently being undertaken by <strong>the</strong> Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre in conjunction with CSIRO <strong>and</strong> is funded by <strong>the</strong> Murray-Darling Basin Commission as part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir 50 year Native Fish Strategy. Long-term support for this type <strong>of</strong> project is essential as it may take 30-50 years or more for <strong>the</strong> technique to work, once a viable genetic construct is released into <strong>the</strong> environment. 144
Community fish-outs Carp have only relatively recently exp<strong>and</strong>ed <strong>the</strong>ir range significantly into Queensl<strong>and</strong>. Since carp are now widespread, particularly through <strong>the</strong> Murray-Darling Basin, eradication is not currently being attempted. Recreational carp fishing competitions are becoming more popular in Queensl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> can provide targeted carp extraction as well as educate <strong>the</strong> community about carp. Current <strong>management</strong> NSW – Current <strong>management</strong> efforts in NSW are targeted towards <strong>the</strong> collection <strong>of</strong> life history traits <strong>and</strong> movement patterns to enable more effective <strong>management</strong>. Traps have been designed <strong>and</strong> implemented in fishways around Locks <strong>and</strong> Weirs in <strong>the</strong> Murray River <strong>and</strong> many recreational fishing competitions now have a category for carp. QLD – Little control is undertaken in Queensl<strong>and</strong>. The waters <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Darling River are surveyed annually to determine fish assemblage structures, but little investment goes into carp control. Outside <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s, community-based fishing competitions targeting carp are held, however <strong>the</strong> long-term effectiveness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se events is still unclear. SA – Much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> carp control effort is focused on <strong>the</strong> restoration <strong>of</strong> semi-isolated lakes along <strong>the</strong> Murray River. Lakes are ei<strong>the</strong>r drained, electr<strong>of</strong>ished or poisoned to remove <strong>the</strong> carp <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n screens are set up on <strong>the</strong> inlets to <strong>the</strong> lakes to prevent reinvasion. Commercial fishing <strong>of</strong> carp also occurs. Management <strong>of</strong> carp in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s Much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> debate about carp <strong>management</strong> centres on population control ra<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>impact</strong> reduction. This focus may hinder setting priorities for carp <strong>management</strong>, directing resources away more susceptible <strong>and</strong> inherently valuable areas (e.g. areas with threatened species or pristine areas recently invaded) where <strong>the</strong> return may be greater. Focus on <strong>impact</strong> reduction will prove to be more effective <strong>and</strong> economical in <strong>the</strong> long-term. Current control methods are expensive <strong>and</strong> only effective over smaller areas. The most likely solutions to reducing carp <strong>impact</strong>s on biodiversity are viral biocontrol or <strong>the</strong> ‘daughterless technology’. 145
Page 1:
Review of<
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Contributors Andrew Norris Pest Ani
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3.7.36 Common Myna (Acridot
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Table of figures F
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Section 2 Introduction Feral <stron
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Amanda Dimmock, QD
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Section 3 A status review o
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3.4 Birds Thirteen (or 14) species
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Information on the
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Summary A rodent that contributes t
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Dingoes can become a threat to wild
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The significance of</strong
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macropods and b<st
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^Lasiorhinus krefftii North
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Perceived threat Geopsittacus occid
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conservation areas. It is less clea
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Table 8 Rare species found in <stro
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Competition Several examples are re
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In truth, camels do substantial dam
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the Tanami. Buffal
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The situation today Buffalo numbers
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qualify under IUCN criteria as enda
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3.7.16 Goat (Capra hircus) Summary
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Drakonorchis drakeoides Hinged Drag
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3.7.19 Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Su
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Impacts Much is known about <strong
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Distribution Ostriches have won <st
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nest in tree hollows along
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Distribution The skylark is found i
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Distribution The blackbird is wides
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Land, and<
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have been translocated to o
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esources. Significant investment in
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many native species (Clarke et al.
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spread across the
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Section 4 Legislative framework 4.1
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protection, as long as it falls wit
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Native Vegetation Conservation Act
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ehabilitate existing native vegetat
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suppression, which is the</
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al. 1986, 1987). The use of
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5.1.4 Mustering Commercial musterin
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etal. (1997) found that many native
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the vaccine <stron
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Where possible, integration <strong
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strategy, relative cost-effectivene
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Fencing Feral buffalo have a reputa
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5.3 Management of
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Summary of <strong
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time comes for the
Page 102 and 103: Summary of <strong
Page 104 and 105: Individual tracking Tracking is a l
Page 106 and 107: SA - Currently cats are not widely
Page 108 and 109: Method of control
Page 110 and 111: Aerial shooting Aerial shooting can
Page 114 and 115: 80% of export was
Page 116 and 117: ensuring effective treatment <stron
Page 118 and 119: the lower cost, wi
Page 120 and 121: 5.8 Management of
Page 122 and 123: conservation value rathe</s
Page 124 and 125: effort on the cont
Page 128 and 129: follow transect lines, one kilometr
Page 130 and 131: as a refuge from predators. Removal
Page 134 and 135: was completed it was the</s
Page 136 and 137: warren structure amenable to recolo
Page 138 and 139: Poisons Traditionally, strychnine,
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Page 142 and 143: of high priority.
Page 144 and 145: Method of control
Page 148 and 149: technique can allow for cost-effect
Page 156 and 157: % respondents 100% 90% 80% 70% 60%
Page 158 and 159: a) b) Figure 3. a) Extent o
Page 160 and 161: Figure 4 Response frequency for lik
Page 162 and 163: distribution of <s
Page 164 and 165: Section 7 Key problems and<
Page 166 and 167: • Goats degrading temperate woodl
Page 168 and 169: conservation problems in Europe <st
Page 170 and 171: message that camels are a valuable
Page 172 and 173: In the Koolatong R
Page 174 and 175: environmental degradation’ (Nor<s
Page 176 and 177: ecause dingo and d
Page 178 and 179: Various control methods have been a
Page 180 and 181: Pascale Taplin, an Indigenous L<str
Page 182 and 183: Lack of a Strategi
Page 184 and 185: eradicated after seeing the
Page 186 and 187: In some situations, payment <strong
Page 188 and 189: could have led to better protocols
Page 190 and 191: Game hunting is a growing business,
Page 192 and 193: Much as we might like it, t
Page 194 and 195: conservation outcome. In such a sit
Page 196 and 197: community consultation and<
Page 198 and 199: • Have the non-t
Page 200 and 201: provide opportunities for strategic
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Section 9 Priorities for investment
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contacted for exact locations <stro
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way. Achilles heel research should
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efficient in any given situation. R
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west Queensland re
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Crossland, MR, 199
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Forsyth, DM, and P
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Lange, RT, and Gra
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Morgan, LA and But
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Parkes, JP, 1990, Feral goat contro
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Van Rensberg, PJJ, Skinner, JD, <st
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Appendix A Ferals animals</
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Indigenous lands I
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Appendix B Stakeholder survey form
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222
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Appendix C Database on past NHT fun
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Lachlan Rehabilitation of</
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Northern Territory
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Cape York Ambiilmungu-Ngarra tradit
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Wet Tropics Expansion and</
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Avon Protecting and</strong
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