DUGONG DISGRACE
CROSS-BORDER KILLERS:
A CONFLICT over wildlife management has emerged between Australia and Papua New Guinea, with PNG villagers found to be breaking an international treaty to poach dugongs in the Torres Strait.
A Far Northern Mayor is calling for diplomatic intervention after a two-year long Australian Crime Intelligence Commission (ACIC) inquiry found that hunters from PNG’s Treaty Villages were targeting dugongs outside the provisions of the Torres Strait Treaty, and potentially contributing to dwindling populations of the protected species in the region.
ACIC spent $2 million to examine the black market trade in dugong and turtle meat in the region, however a report obtained by the Cairns Post under the Freedom Of Information Act shows the extent of the issue is still largely unknown.
The commission, which wound up its investigation in June 2016, dropped the issue after handing over its report to Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg earlier this year.
An internal document, released under FOI, shows that while poaching and illegal sale of dugong and turtle meat throughout Queensland was “almost certainly minimal and usually opportunistic”, the poaching activities of PNG nationals in the Torres Strait region – in contravention of the provisions of the treaty – may contribute to a decline of turtle and dugong numbers.
The report states that, in turn, this could have an impact on Australia’s indigenous communities and their lawful ability to hunt turtle and dugong.
Torres Strait Island Regional Council Mayor Fred Gela said the document confirmed what locals had been warning authorities about for several years.
He said hunters were catching large quantities of the protected species in Torres Strait waters, and then selling their take back in PNG.
“Whilst we can put in all the management practices in close consultation with our community, there’s nothing on their side,” he said.
“In fact, on their side, it’s not even regarded as an illegal trade to sell it on the markets.”
The mayor called for diplomatic intervention, now that the issue had been identified.
“I believe they not only need to look into it further, but there needs to be some serious discussion in regards to how we actually address it,” he said. “We can’t just identify something and then automatically sweep it under the carpet.”
He said he had not yet received a copy of the ACIC’s final report, but believed the funding for the two-year investigation could have been put to better use.
“Some of this investment could have gone to funding a program or empowering our current existing program to actually police that illegal activity, especially in regards to the poaching illegally from the PNG nationals,” he said.
Consulate of Papua New Guinea Cairns Consul Luke Kulimbao said the issue was concerning, but very complex due to resourcing and various socio-economic factors.
“There is not going to be an easy job for everyone, on both sides (of the border),” he said.
He said he would endeavour to discuss the issue at an upcoming Border Liaison Meeting between the governments of PNG and Australia.
Minister Frydenberg said the Torres Strait Treaty between the Australian and PNG governments provided for the sustainable management of hunting of turtle and dugong in the Torres Strait.
He said the Government was not aware of any requests for diplomatic intervention.
WHILST WE CAN PUT IN ALL THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY, THERE’S NOTHING ON THEIR SIDE FRED GELA