Introduced animals on New South Wales islands: improving Australia's ability toprotect its island habitats from feral animals

About the report

In May 2005 DEH contracted the New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation to undertake the project:

‘Introduced animals on NSW islands: improving Australia’s ability to protect its island habitats from feral animals (Project number 49533)’

The outputs and outcomes of this project were divided into four stages:

Stage 1

For the state of New South Wales to provide four lists of offshore islands as follow:

I. List all New South Wales islands 20 hectares or larger in size. For each island provide: (a) name, and (b) centroid co-ordinates (or if unnamed centroid coordinates only)

II. List all New South Wales islands of any size known to have or have had populations of introduced animals. For each island provide: (a) name, (b) centroid coordinates (or if unnamed centroid coordinates only), (c) area in hectares, (d) archipelago name if part of an archipelago) (e) land tenure category (as listed by Geosciences Australia), (f) land status under New South Wales legislation reserve number if reserved, (g) vesting (if reserve is vested), (h) ownership (if freehold), (i) introduced animal name, (j) current status of introduced animal (eg state if eradicated), (k) whether island is known to be currently or recently naturally joined to the mainland or larger island or artificially joined by construction of causeway or bridge.

III. List all New South Wales islands 20 hectares or larger with no known occurrences of introduced animals. This list will be a subset of the list produced from I above. For each island provide: (a) name, (b) centroid coordinates (or if unnamed centroid coordinates only), (c) area in hectares, (d) archipelago name if part of an archipelago) (e) land tenure category (as listed by Geosciences Australia), (f) land status under New South Wales legislation reserve number if reserved, (g) vesting (if reserve is vested), (h) ownership (if freehold), (i) whether island is known to be currently or recently naturally joined to the mainland or larger island or artificially joined by construction of causeway or bridge (j) whether island has been surveyed for introduced animals by a NSW Government Department.

IV. List all New South Wales archipelagos where an introduced animal may, once established on one island, disperse quickly to others, including small islets. This list will include sub-sets of the list produced from I above. For each archipelago provide: (a) name, (b) centroid coordinates (or if unnamed centroid coordinates only). A set of precautionary principles to be considered with list IV will also be provided in the final report.

Stage 2.

Identify any entry on Lists I-IV above that is not included in the Gazetteer of Australia.

Stage 3.

Provide information on the (a) government (local and State) legislation, if any, in place to regulate or control the introduction of feral animals (mainly rabbits, goats, pigs, foxes and cats) to each island included in List I and (b) legislation, if any, that controls the movements of introduced animals (any species) to each island or between islands included in List I.

Stage 4.

Are management plans in place that are designed to deal with any unintentional or intentional introduction to the islands, where the island has conservation status under legislation? If yes provide a copy (or internet reference) of each plan.

Further information

• More about feral animals on offshore islands