THREATENED AND IMPORTANT SPECIES

PRIORITY BS4

Aquatic species of concern

The Giant Freshwater Crayfish (GFC) is the largest freshwater invertebrate in the world, and an iconic species in the region. Well-established management actions that have been implemented to protect and enhance GFC habitat can also be applied in focus areas for other aquatic species of concern. The Central North Burrowing Crayfish and Burnie Burrowing Crayfish, the Tasmanian Azure Kingfisher, the Green and Gold Frog and Striped Marsh Frog, Dwarf Galaxias and Australian Grayling, and the Australasian Bittern, are all EPBC-listed species that rely to some extent on rivers and wetlands with good water quality, healthy riparian zones, and best practice land management where they occur on private land. Platypus are of importance to the community, and their population size is not wellknown. NRM activities in the region will focus on Actions that improve the trajectory of these threatened and important aquatic species.

outcome

By 2030, region-wide catchment management planning has been implemented, recovery actions for Giant Freshwater Crayfish have been completed in twelve priority areas, partnerships for burrowing crayfish protection have been established in two peri-urban areas, and the five listed actions that improve the trajectory of other priority species have been implemented.

threats

Local threats that can be addressed by NRM actions:

  • Land use pressures including development, intensification of agriculture and other industries leading to reduced areas of suitable habitat
  • Inappropriate land management practices including vegetation clearing, lack of stock fencing, and poor quality riparian buffers leading to reduced water quality
  • Draining of wetlands
  • Weeds and feral animals
  • Lack of knowledge and understanding in the community about threatened species and best practice riparian and wetland management

Actions

BS4.a

Implement Giant Freshwater Crayfish recovery actions in priority catchments.

Establish burrowing crayfish species protection partnership programs in Devonport and Burnie municipalities to improve the trajectory of the Central North Burrowing Crayfish (Engaeus granulatus) and Burnie Burrowing Crayfish (Engaeus yabbimunna).

Implement regional catchment management planning that considers aquatic species habitat.

Develop and publish regional best practice riparian management guidelines.

Support the continuation of citizen science initiatives to map and quantify platypus populations and threats.

Raise awareness of Azure Kingfisher range, threats and preferred habitats, and target riparian management extension in priority kingfisher areas.

In partnership with Inland Fisheries Service, develop actions to support the recovery of Dwarf Galaxias and Australian Grayling, such as improved education and awareness of native fish species, and identifications of barriers to fish movement.

Raise awareness of the range, threats and habitats of threatened and important frog species such as Litoria raniformis and Limnodynastes peronii, and target wetland management extension in priority threatened frog areas including King Island.

Support citizen science initiatives to understand Australasian Bittern population and range. Raise awareness of best practice wetland management and support wetland restoration activities.

implementation

Investment Opportunity

  • Australian Government
  • Tasmanian Government
  • Regional or Local
  • Private or philanthropic

  • Information gathering activities including review of recent GFC program outcomes, and citizen science frog, bittern, burrowing crayfish and platypus monitoring.
  • Policy and planning activities such as prioritisation of appropriate management actions and locations for investment, engagement in council land-use planning processes, and regional catchment management planning that considers aquatic species habitat.
  • On-ground work including weed management and land management agreements focused on protection and restoration of riparian and wetland areas on farms.
  • Behaviour-change and capacity-building activities – education, awareness and skill-building focused on biodiversity values and best management practices that result in improved water quality and habitat protection of riparian and wetland areas.

Local Councils; Government agencies (e.g. IFS); Landcare, Wildcare, community groups and notfor-profits (e.g. NatureTrackers); Land managers; volunteers; researchers.

Field days, workshops and educational activities; extension, capacity building and land management agreement opportunities for landholders focused on riparian areas and wetlands; volunteer and citizen science opportunities.