Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

 

 

DECLARATION OF AN
APPROVED SMALL-SCALE WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION –

HINTERNOOSA HATCHERY 2024-27

 

 

I, Belinda Jago, Branch Head, Ocean and Wildlife Branch, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999:

(a) having considered public comments as required by section 303FR

(b) being satisfied as to those matters for a Wildlife trade operation set out in sub-sections 303FN(3), (4) and (5) 

declare that Hinternoosa Hatchery is an approved small-scale Wildlife Trade Operation as defined by subsection 303FN(10)(b) and Regulation 9A.20(2) for Neoceratodus forsteri (Australian Lungfish).

This declaration has effect subject to the following conditions applied under section 303FT:

  1. The operation is to be undertaken in accordance with the proposal submitted to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on 22 January 2024.
  2. This declaration is valid for three years from the day after its registration on the Federal Register of Legislation. 
  3. All specimens of Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) exported under this Wildlife Trade Operation must be at least first generation, produced from broodstock collected under a Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries General Fisheries Permit or subsequent progeny of those broodstock.
  4. Prior to being sold or transferred all specimens of Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) must be fitted with an internal Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag or an alternative marking technology system approved by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
  5. Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) that have been harvested from the wild under a Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries General Fisheries Permit cannot be exported under this operation.
  6. Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) harvested from the wild under a Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries General Fisheries Permit must be PIT tagged within 7 business days of harvest. The harvest information including the number of specimens harvested, harvest location coordinates, harvest date and PIT tag number must be reported to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water within 14 business days.
  7. A minimum of 20 progeny must be retained by Hinternoosa Hatchery as future broodstock. All retained progenies must be PIT tagged (or identified by an approved alternative marking system) within 9 months of hatching.
  8. Hinternoosa Hatchery must provide an annual report to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water by 20 April each year. The annual report must include:

 

a)      The number of Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) produced, including the generation of each specimen, the PIT tag (or approved alternative marking system) number, and date of PIT tagging.

b)     Domestic and international sales information, including:

  1. The total number of Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) traded domestically and internationally.
  2. Individual transaction information, including:
    1. the registered business name of the buyer or details of the person or organisation that received the specimens
    2. the total number of Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) traded, by sale or transfer
    3. a list of PIT tag numbers (or approved alternative marking system) for each specimen
    4. the average length and weight of each Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) at the time of sale or transfer, and
    5. breeding generation (F1, F2 or subsequent generation) information for each specimen.

c)      The total number of Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) broodstock and progeny held at the Hinternoosa Hatchery aquaculture facility.

d)     The percentage and number of progenies retained as future broodstock in accordance with condition 7 and the PIT tag information (number and date inserted).

 


 

 

Dated this 22nd day of April 2024

 

Belinda Jago
......................................................................

 

Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water

 

 

 

A person whose interests are affected by this declaration may, within 28 days, make an application in writing to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for the reasons for the decision.

 

An application for independent review of the decision (under section 303GJ(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), on payment of the relevant fee (currently $1,082 or reduced fee where applicable due to financial hardship) by the applicant, either within 28 days of receipt of the reasons for the decision, or within 28 days of this declaration if reasons for the decision are not sought. Applications should be made to the Deputy Registrar, AAT in your Capital City. Please visit the AAT’s website at Administrative Appeals Tribunal | Administrative Appeals Tribunal (aat.gov.au) for further information.

 

You may make an application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) to access documents relevant to this decision. For further information, please visit https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/reporting/freedom-of-information. Further enquiries should be directed to the Director, Wildlife Trade Assessments Section, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water by email: wta@dcceew.gov.au or telephone: 1800 075 065.