Environment

After 27 years in this business, living on both sides of the law, day to day.

I was a working member for some 8 years in one of the Largest Crocodile Management Groups in Cape York Queensland...

The South East Crocodile Management Group ( this group was working with the E.P.A Qld)

I have also been on several water Catchments Management Groups. So I have a good grasp on a lot of Conservation Issues that arise.

In this section of the page it will give you some insight to my current conservation status in the Crocodile Industry. I am a great believer in the sustainable wild harvesting of natural, renewable resources. I am the only one around that has practiced this conservation in the field on a yearly basis for over a decade and a half.

My mentor taught me this method of conservation, which he learnt from 26years of experience, living it, sustainable harvesting this resource. We had to look after our environment so as we could have the highest yield possible in our environment. I have been pushing the Queensland Government for nearly two decades, to come into line with the rest of the world, in looking after this valuable resource . I have had numerous with the three Queensland Premiers, a Federal Environment Minster and several other crocodile conservation groups throughout Queensland, but to no avail. Even when I got a letter from the top three, namely ( The Crocodile Specialist Group of the World, Species Survival Commission and The World Conservation Union) recommending the Queensland Government to adopt my proposal to collect eggs and the wild harvesting of the animals in their natural environment. They still took no notice, which is sad because the Queensland Government prides itself on its conservation polices. But still 20years behind the rest of the world in the conservation of this valuable species. I hope you enjoy this letter from the Crocodile Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission and World Conservation Union, it says it all!

Note: The Queensland Government have currently got a program in place with a Aboriginal Community on the Cape. As I have stated to them and several other interested parties, this program is doomed to fail start. Due to the facts it's being conducted in an area that has very low population of mature, breeding crocodiles. As also stated in the Queensland Nature Act, this area has not got sufficient crocodile to perform this sort of program. The only area on Cape York that this program would successfully work, due to the large population of crocodiles in the Estuarine System is the Wenlock River System. This river system has the largest population of animals on the Cape and it is also mentioned in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act as being the most likely spot for a program like this one to work. So why go and implement a program in an area that has very few crocodiles?

So I think the writing is on the wall that this program is doomed to fail. There comes a point where some people in authority and their policies are too green.

Therefore become detrimental to our environment! ( and in my words, I don't think a large percentage of our Environmental Protection Agency staff would be happy unless they had a crocodile for a wife and a turtle for the best man)

I'll keep you up to date

Regards

Mick