Liberals call for an Abundant Native Species Management Plan
Feb 15, 2012
Adrian Pederick MP
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Shadow Minister for Forests
Liberals call for an Abundant Native Species Management Plan
The Liberal Opposition will introduce a motion in Parliament calling on the Weatherill Labor Government to introduce an Abundant Native Species Management Plan.
The motion is in response to the effects of rapidly increasing numbers of New Zealand Fur Seals on South Australia’s environment and marine life.
A significant increase in Fur Seal numbers has already negatively impacted the Eyre Peninsula’s Rock Lobster fisheries and the State’s Tuna farms.
Little penguins form a significant part of the diet of New Zealand fur seals around Granite and West Islands, which may also explain why penguin numbers in these areas have fallen in recent years.
“Unfortunately, the Weatherill Labor Government doesn’t have a strategy to manage the Fur Seal population across the State, but we have reached a point where a co-ordinated response from Environment Minister Caica is needed,” Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Adrian Pederick said.
“A recent survey by Department of Environment and Natural Resource officers on Fur Seal numbers around Kangaroo Island estimated a population of over 40,000 principally New Zealand Fur Seals.
“It is time for the Weatherill Labor Government to act and consider an appropriate management strategy for the future.”