9News 9 Sep 11;
Four traditional owner groups have agreed not to hunt dugong for the next five years and limit their take of green turtles to 20 a year.
The groups, from central Queensland, imposed the bans after negotiations with the state government, says Environment Minister Vicky Darling.
The announcement comes amid a spike in deaths for both endangered species, with many blamed on starvation after this year's floods wiped out seagrass beds.
The agreement covers waters from Burrum Heads, south of Bundaberg, to Curtis Island off Gladstone, a distance of several hundred kilometres.
Ms Darling said the floods had had a devastating effect on sea grasses in the region, a primary food source for dugong and sea turtles.
"That's why we are seeing increased numbers of strandings and deaths of these animals this year and anything we can do to stem the numbers of deaths is more than welcome," she said in a statement.
Under the Native Title Act, traditional owners have the right to hunt dugong and sea turtles, which are both protected species.
Under the self-imposed ban, the Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, Taribelang Bunda and Bailai people have temporarily given up that right.
Earlier this week, wildlife campaigner Bob Irwin called for a moratorium on traditional hunting to address a significant drop in the populations of both endangered species.
Ms Darling said the agreement would help traditional owner groups manage their seafood resources and monitor their waters for illegal poachers.
"These are real outcomes for sustainable hunting that are occurring right now through genuine engagement with Traditional Owners."
Last month, the government revealed 649 turtle deaths had been reported in the first seven months of 2011 - up more than 200 on the same period last year.
It also said 96 dugongs had washed up dead on the state's coastline in the first seven months of this year, compared with 79 for the whole of 2010.
Researchers have said the actual toll would be much higher, as those are only the animals that have been found.
Starvation as a result of the recent natural disasters is being blamed for many of the deaths.
But the conservation group WWF says both species are suffering from broader threats including coastal development and boat strikes from a dramatic ramp up in shipping activity related to the mining boom and other industries.
Clans agree to stop dugong hunting
AAP Sydney Morning Herald 9 Sep 11;
Four traditional owner groups have agreed not to hunt dugong for the next five years and limit their take of green turtles to 20 a year.
The groups, from central Queensland, imposed the bans after negotiations with the state government, says Environment Minister Vicky Darling.
The announcement comes amid a spike in deaths for both endangered species, with many blamed on starvation after this year's floods wiped out seagrass beds.
Advertisement: Story continues below
The agreement covers waters from Burrum Heads, south of Bundaberg, to Curtis Island off Gladstone, a distance of several hundred kilometres.
Ms Darling said the floods had had a devastating effect on sea grasses in the region, a primary food source for dugong and sea turtles.
"That's why we are seeing increased numbers of strandings and deaths of these animals this year and anything we can do to stem the numbers of deaths is more than welcome," she said in a statement.
Under the Native Title Act, traditional owners have the right to hunt dugong and sea turtles, which are both protected species.
Under the self-imposed ban, the Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, Taribelang Bunda and Bailai people have temporarily given up that right.
Earlier this week, wildlife campaigner Bob Irwin called for a moratorium on traditional hunting to address a significant drop in the populations of both endangered species.
Ms Darling said the agreement would help traditional owner groups manage their seafood resources and monitor their waters for illegal poachers.
"These are real outcomes for sustainable hunting that are occurring right now through genuine engagement with Traditional Owners."
Last month, the government revealed 649 turtle deaths had been reported in the first seven months of 2011 - up more than 200 on the same period last year.
It also said 96 dugongs had washed up dead on the state's coastline in the first seven months of this year, compared with 79 for the whole of 2010.
Researchers have said the actual toll would be much higher, as those are only the animals that have been found.
Starvation as a result of the recent natural disasters is being blamed for many of the deaths.
But the conservation group WWF says both species are suffering from broader threats including coastal development and boat strikes from a dramatic ramp up in shipping activity related to the mining boom and other industries.
Minister rejects probe into turtle, dugong poaching claims
Kirsty Nancarrow and Josh Bavas ABC News 9 Sep 11;
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke says he will not investigate allegations turtle and dugong meat are being sold on the black market in north Queensland.
Mr Burke says it is not the Federal Government's place to ban traditional hunting.
Environmental campaigners, some traditional owners and the Liberal National Party (LNP), want hunting restricted to help populations recover after Cyclone Yasi.
They say the practice is accelerating the decline of the animals in north Queensland waters.
Mr Burke says it would be "patronising" for the Government to impose a ban on Indigenous residents taking the animals.
He says the Federal Government will instead spend $5 million consulting traditional owners on how to manage the problem.
Mr Burke says the talks may lead to Indigenous rangers having a greater role in monitoring illegal practices.
"There's a whole host [of options] and I suspect the answer to that question will be different for different communities," he said.
"There's no point in me telling a team of bureaucrats based in Canberra to kick off an investigation into something like this.
"You really need to have the eyes and ears on the ground and that begins through a far more respectful approach, then just pretending there's a quick political solution to this."
Local management
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has welcomed the financial assistance to help protect the animals.
But WWF conservation manager Cliff Cobbo says the educational programs need to be managed by local groups themselves.
"There's a whole gamut and a whole range of issues that could be addressed," he said.
"We're looking to secure investment for these communities to ensure that there's appropriate leadership around the issue, around sustainable harvest.
"Basically it's up to the communities to decide on what type of measures that those education programs can be delivered at a local level.
"There are a number of education programs that I think can be developed in some of these local Indigenous communities.
"The issue there is that these types of programs need to be owned and delivered by the local communities, hence they need to customise the packages at a local level."
