FLYING FOX DECISION A WARNING TO GROWERS

Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr today reminded north Queensland fruit growers to ensure crop protection methods did not unlawfully kill or harm flying foxes.

Ms Nelson-Carr welcomed a decision in the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane today ordering a Miriwinni lychee farmer not to operate an electric grid on his property which he had used to prevent flying foxes from damaging fruit.

The farmer was also ordered to dismantle the electric grid within three months.

The court action followed the grower claiming in the media he had previously killed 1100 spectacled flying foxes by electrocution on an electric grid erected on his lychee farm.

Ms Nelson-Carr said the majority of growers were doing the right thing by using non-lethal methods to protect crops such as nets, flood lights or gas guns.

“Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service officers have been visiting growers over the past weeks to advise them of their legal obligations in respect to flying foxes and to advise of alternative methods for crop protection that don’t involve killing animals.

“Monitoring will occur over the season.

“While it is not illegal to own electric grids, using them to kill or harm animals is illegal and anyone caught doing so will be prosecuted.”

Ms Nelson-Carr said she would monitor the situation closely and would not rule out changing the law to ban electric grids.

“We still need to determine whether the grids can be used in a non-lethal manner to manage flying fox populations.

“There is still the possibility the grids may be used in a non-lethal manner although no one has demonstrated that capability and no licenses have been issued to use it in that manner.

Ms Nelson-Carr said under the Nature Conservation Act, the penalty for killing or harming flying foxes was up to $7500 and the court might order an additional conservation value penalty of $1229 per animal.

“Growers who experience significant fruit damage after using non-lethal methods may apply for a Damage Mitigation Permit which allows growers to protect their crops by shooting.

“However this only allows for low numbers to be culled as agreed between the State and Commonwealth Governments and cannot be relied on as the sole method to fruit protection."

There are three species of flying foxes in north Queensland with one of the three species, the spectacled flying fox, listed as vulnerable under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act.

“The spectacled flying fox is considered a ‘keystone’ species that contributes to the World Heritage values of Queensland’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

Media contact: Karla Steen on 3336 8004 or Andie Gatti on 3336 8002