ABC News 27 Sep 14;
The Federal Government is warning anyone involved in the illegal trade of dugong and turtle meat that they will be caught.
The Government has allocated $5 million to a dugong and turtle protection plan that involves the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Customs and Border Protection, and the Australian Crime Commission.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the Crime Commission has been given $2 million to investigate the illegal trade.
Traditional owners have given their backing to the Government's protection plan.
"They know that their good name is being used by poachers," Mr Hunt said.
"We are determined to end the illegal trafficking in dugong and turtle meat and to protect these majestic creatures."
Under the Native Title Act of 1993, Indigenous people with native title rights can hunt marine turtles and dugong for personal, domestic or non-commercial communal needs, and "in exercise and enjoyment of their native title rights and interests".
Dugong and turtle poaching has been identified as a problem in the Northern Territory and Queensland, where the animals are hunted and the meat sold illegally.
National Indigenous radio broadcaster Seith Fourmile said non-Indigenous people were also involved in the illegal trade.
"They are involved with the trading, with selling it, passing it down - some of the turtle meat has gone as far south as Sydney and Melbourne," he said.
Mr Hunt warned poachers to "be worried".
"It's time to protect these species. We're putting serious resources and serious people on the task," he said.
"If you are poaching dugong and turtle meat, transporting it illegally, you should be worried because the toughest cops on the beat are coming after you."
An Australian government survey in 2003 into dugong populations in the NT estimated the coastline from Daly River to Milingimbi at supporting over 13,000 animals.
It lists a number of threats to dugongs, including accidental entanglement in gill and mesh nets set by commercial fishers, habitat loss and degradation, boat strikes and harassment by tourists.
Other listed threats include acoustic and chemical pollution, disease, tidal surges and "capture stress", after two animals died while being fitted with radio devices for research purposes.
Plan to tackle dugong, turtle poachers muddle-headed, says Northern Land Council boss Joe Morrison
James Dunlevie ABC News 28 Sep 14;
The Federal Government's $5-million plan to crackdown on the illegal trade of dugong and turtle meat has been called a "muddle-headed" approach to conservation.
The dugong and turtle protection plan involves the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Customs and Border Protection, and the Australian Crime Commission to investigate and prosecute those trading in meat and products.
But the strategy should instead be left to local Indigenous people, said Northern Land Council CEO Joe Morrison.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt said traditional owners had given their backing to the Government's plan.
"They know that their good name is being used by poachers," Mr Hunt said.
"We are determined to end the illegal trafficking in dugong and turtle meat and to protect these majestic creatures.
"If you are poaching dugong and turtle meat, transporting it illegally, you should be worried because the toughest cops on the beat are coming after you."
But Mr Morrison said sentiment was clouding the issue and survey numbers showed a healthy population of dugongs.
"[It's] a bit like whale hunting around the world, it becomes emotional," he said.
"Once we understand the facts... there has been recent surveys to look at population. I don't think there is a big problem at all.
"Just suggesting outright from some of the politicians involved [that there is a problem] is a muddled-headed approach to conservation."
Mr Morrison said any such plan would infringe on people's rights to hunt foods as their ancestors had done and said Mr Hunt's statement about traditional owners backing the plan was "nonsense".
"Quoting some traditional owners from a particular area as being representative of all Aboriginal islander people across the country is nonsense," he said.
He said any action to combat the illegal harvest of dugong or turtle meat by Indigenous or non-Indigenous people should come from the communities.
"People who are most concerned about these matters are Indigenous people who have to live with the consequences of animals becoming threatened or extinct, particularly especially when they are so spiritually significant and when they provide protein in the diet," Mr Morrison said.
Under the Native Title Act of 1993, Indigenous people with native title rights can hunt marine turtles and dugong for personal, domestic or non-commercial communal needs, and "in exercise and enjoyment of their native title rights and interests".
Dugong and turtle poaching has been identified as a problem in the Northern Territory and Queensland, where the animals are hunted and the meat sold illegally or traded for drugs.
A 2008 study by the Australian Centre for Applied Marine Mammal Science concluded "the dugong population in the Gulf of Carpentaria region is substantial (approximately 12,500 individuals), making it one of the most important regions for dugongs in Australia and the world".
"We believe that there is time to work with local traditional owners and commercial fishers to develop appropriate management arrangements without dugongs becoming locally extinct within this region," the study said.
A 2003 Australian government survey into dugong populations in the NT estimated the coastline from Daly River to Milingimbi at supporting over 13,000 animals.
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