Question on big salties to remove

A VETERAN Far North boatie has conditionally given his support for a trial which would remove a “modest” number of crocodiles from Queensland’s populated east coast to control numbers.

An independent, expert review of the Queensland Crocodile Management Program has made 22 recommendations for improving management and safety presented in a recent report by the state’s chief scientist Hugh Possingham.

Among the recommendations was the annual removal of a modest number of crocodiles that are at least 2.4m in length on the east coast between Cooktown and Ayr.

“Up until now, the number of estuarine crocodiles removed each year in Queensland has been dictated largely by the number of crocodiles declared to be ‘ problem crocodiles’ (either following a sighting or an attack) and targeted for removal,” the report read.

The report stated there was no evidence of a large increase in crocodile numbers either now or into the future, with the population growing slowly about two per cent per year on average. But it said in order to reduce the risk of humancrocodile conflict or rate of fatal attacks, modelling could be used to identify an annual offtake target in terms of both the number and size range of animals to be removed.

Hooked Up Fishing Adventures Mission Beach’s Alister Pike said he would be interested to learn how the Department of Environment and Science was going to decide which crocodiles to remove.

“I mean at Hull Heads, if a crocodile pulls up on the beach, I’d consider that native. Inside the (Hull) River mouth, I’d consider that native habitat for crocodiles so I would be objecting strenuously to removing crocodiles areas like that,” he said.

“But if they start climbing up into banana farms, urban drains or one pulls up and takes residence out the front of Castaways at Mission Beach, I think there’s grounds to remove that.”

Mr Pike said he agreed 2.4m was the right minimum size of crocodile to be targeted for removal.