Appendix C
In accordance with the National Policy for the Translocation of Live Aquatic Organisms the following principles will be used to support the administration of these guidelines.
- Translocation of live aquatic organisms may have a potential economic, social or conservation benefits, but it is recognised that translocation of live aquatic organisms can involve serious risks for the receiving ecosystem and for human health.
- Translocations into catchments or maritime regions that are under more than one jurisdiction, for example the Murray-Darling river system, require the agreement of all the relevant jurisdictions.
- All translocation proposals should undergo an adequate and balanced risk assessment process, particularly with regard to the pest potential, disease status, potential to introduce parasites and diseases and possibilities of affecting biodiversity, in accordance with consistent risk assessment protocols aimed at minimising adverse impacts.
- A decision to permit a translocation may include a protocol that may be used for similar translocations.
- Risk assessments will include assessment of the likelihood and consequences of an introduction and the mechanism for risk management and minimisation. Where aquatic organisms are released into the wild, considerations of habitat preservation, threatened species status, and the genetic effects need to be evaluated.
- Whenever disease and parasite considerations are adequately addressed, translocation of 'threatened' species for the purpose of stock rehabilitation is supported with appropriate measures to ensure the genetic diversity and integrity of the species.
- Monitoring programs will be used to assess and improve the accuracy of predictions generated by risk assessments and the effectiveness of management strategies applied to translocations.