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Lobster Forests Nature Reserve
ReseRve PRoPosalNovembeR 2016
Lobster Nature Reserve Proposal Area
black river
dip river
hebe river
Image: Vica Bayley
Lobster Forests Nature Reserve Proposal
November 2016
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The Wilderness Society
Lobster Forests Nature
Reserve Proposal
Contact:
Lobster Forests Nature Reserve Proposal
November 2016
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1. Executive Summary
The giant freshwater lobster (Astacopsis gouldi) is a species of key conservation interest in
Tasmania. Occupying streams in the state’s North, often in forested areas, it is an enigmatic
and iconic species that has long suffered human induced impacts to its population viability.
Fishing and poaching pressure, landclearing and degradation of habitat through industrial
logging have been key processes threatening the survival of the species. Species Recovery
Plans have recommended a suite of actions aimed at stabilizing and recovering lobster
populations, with the most recent in draft form and recently subject to community
consultation.
This reserve proposal contains recommendations to formally reserve particular areas of
unallocated crown land in North West Tasmania under Tasmania's nature conservation
legislation. Based on current scientific knowledge, advice, and the recommendation of
species Recovery Plans (current and draft), this action, in concert with improved landscape
management practices, would make a substantial contribution to securing the future of the
species.
The recommendations are as follows:
Recommendation 1: Formal reservation of lands currently protected as Future
Potential Production Forest (FPPF) land in the priority Lobster sub-catchments of the
Dip, Black, Hebe and Flowerdale Rivers as part of a dedicated Lobster Forests Nature
Reserve. This reserve should also encompass existing areas of formal reserve
adjacent to the identified areas of FPPF land.
Recommendation 2: The formal reservation of lands currently protected as Future
Potential Production Forest land in the priority Lobster sub-catchments of the Upper
Frankland, Leigh, Lindsay, Horton and Rapid River, as one part of a broader Tarkine
National Park declaration.
Recommendation 3: The development of management plans across these and
contiguous protected areas, production forest, and freehold lands that ensure cross
tenure management is focused on the conservation and recovery of the Giant
Freshwater Lobster.
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Recommendation 4: In addition to protection of unallocated crown land in priority
subcatchments, landscape protections should include the expansion of riparian
protections to critical ‘headwaters’ habitat, in line with recent research findings.
2. Giant Freshwater Lobster - Conservation Status
The giant freshwater lobster is a species endemic to Tasmania. It is the world’s largest
freshwater lobster, with recorded specimens growing up to 1 metre long and to a weighing
up to 6 kilograms. Inhabiting the catchments of northern Tasmania, the species holds
enduring public interest.
The species is listed as vulnerable under Australian and Tasmanian legislation, and as
endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Substantial efforts have been undertaken in relation to fishing bans, poaching control
efforts, voluntary habitat restoration and forestry prescriptions, however localised
extinctions are believed to have occurred in some catchments. Key scientific and Recovery
Plan recommendations pertaining to the reservation of critical habitat on public land have
been repeatedly ignored by Governments. This proposal seeks to address this failure.
3. Species Extent
Giant freshwater lobsters have different habitat preferences depending on different life
stages. They are however, restricted to river catchments of northern Tasmania that flow
into Bass Strait, and the Arthur catchment flowing into the Indian Ocean on the
takayna/Tarkine coast.
In general, the species is restricted to rivers and streams below an altitude of approximately
400m above sea level and these areas are described as key habitat requiring additional
levels of reservation. Above this altitude, headwater streams in upper catchments, while
not housing populations of lobsters, require additional protections from degradation as they
are important for maintaining water quality in downstream areas of critical habitat.
The species prefers well shaded streams with reliable water flows of good quality with low
sedimentation. Across its lifecycle, the species requires a diversity of under surface
environments, from large logs and snags, undercut banks, shingle rapids and deep pools. It
is known to travel over-land to seek out new, suitable habitat.
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Populations in north east and central northern Tasmania have been heavily impacted by
fishing, mining related pollution, landclearing and industrial logging that degrades key
habitat and water quality, increasing sedimentation that makes recruitment of juvenile
lobsters difficult. As the 2016 review of the national recovery plan of the giant freshwater
lobster (the review) notes , the species has suffered ‘probable localised extinctions’ in
catchments in northeast Tasmania, with surveys undertaken in 2009/10 showing ‘that
massive sediment loads had decimated the population in most downstream areas of the
catchments’.1
Without doubt, the most viable populations of the species are now restricted to northwest
Tasmania. With genetic diversity across the population believed to be low, the
reestablishment of populations in catchments where the species is believed extinct is
possible and a recommendation of the draft Recovery Plan.
4. Species Recovery Plans
The recent publication of the review into the current Recovery Plan and release for public
comment of a new draft of the Recovery Plan, provides good advice and sound
recommendations regarding critical actions that need to be taken to secure the future of
the species. Some recommendations have been informed by new research into the
importance of management of headwater streams to manage downstream water quality
issues.
The review of the 2006 Recovery Plan is clear that despite some successes, more action is
required to protect the species.
It is clear that the story of recovery for this species is mixed, in regards to localised
populations, actual delivery of habitat protection strategies, and implementation of other
planned measures to achieve recovery.
Anecdotal evidence in 2016, of mass population mortality through extreme flooding events
in some important habitat catchments highlights the precarious state of the species, the
impact of uncontrollable external events and the dire need for both sound recovery
planning and actual implementation of effective conservation strategies.
In concert with major population declines in some catchments in the species’ strongholds in
1 Australian Department of Environment (2015) Review of the national recovery plan for the Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Lobster
(Astacopsis gouldi). https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/005e8904-6602-4de1-b32f-64a58af3a63f/files/review-
recovery-plan-giant-freshwater-lobster.pdf . p17
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north west Tasmania, mass mortality events and the lack of recovery of populations in
heavily degraded catchments, there is substantial cause for concern.
Conversely, the stabilisation of populations in suitable quality habitats and the increase in
size of monitored crayfish indicate positive progress, particularly in regards to fishing bans,
poaching prevention and improvements in some aspects of habitat protection.
The conclusion of the recovery plan review states that:
It appears likely that overall, the population of A. gouldi is slowly recovering,
particularly in the north-west of the State. Preliminary indications from the north-
east of the State are that the populations in that region are severely fragmented and
impacted.2
We note, however, the qualified nature of that assessment, and the very clear need to
undertake ongoing monitoring to accurately assess the conservation trajectory of the
species.
In regards to ongoing actions, the most substantial class of outstanding actions required are
measures to reduce habitat disturbance in headwater stream to avoid downstream
sedimentation, providing support for private land management and habitat restoration, and
the protection of catchment areas with resident, critical populations.3
The Wilderness Society strongly supports the measures outlined in the recovery plan review
and draft plan to increase the area of public land gazetted as formal protected areas in
Lobster strongholds. The Lobster Forest Nature Reserve proposal seeks to advance these
actions by proposing specific areas for reservation, in the hope and expectation of a positive
investment from the Tasmanian Government in the preservation of this iconic Tasmanian
species.
2 Ibid
3 Ibid
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5. New conservation reserves - A major contribution to long
term viability
The Wilderness Society notes that the 2016 recovery plan review identified that a 30,000ha
increase in the total area of reserves on public land, ‘may greatly reduce the need for any
active management of this species’.4 This points to the well-recognised conservation value
of securing the viability of threatened species through permanent protection of key habitats
from threats, through formal protected areas.
The current Recovery Plan (2006-10)5, based on the work of Lynch and Blundhorn (2007)
and Walsh (2003), identified the need for reservation of a number of important locations for
the lobster.
The limited progress meeting recommendations to increase permanent reservation of
priority catchments for the species is reflected in the 2016 recovery plan review. The review
notes that ‘key areas requiring protection have been identified on multiple occasions. This
information needs to be incorporated into future management and recovery efforts’6 and
that ‘public land reserves have not been set aside for this species’7. As the review
recognises, the major remaining strongholds for habitat and population density are the
Arthur, Frankland, Black, Dip, Flowerdale and Leven Rivers.
Within these areas, there are specific sub-catchments with known population occurrences
and high quality habitat89
, including:
● Black-Detention Catchment, specifically the Black and Dip River subcatchments;
● Arthur catchment, specifically the Upper Frankland sub-catchment, the Horton
River, and the Rapid River; and
● Inglis-Flowerdale catchment, specifically the Flowerdale/Hebe subcatchment.
4 Australian Department of Environment (2015) Review of the national recovery plan for the Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Lobster
(Astacopsis gouldi). https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/005e8904-6602-4de1-b32f-64a58af3a63f/files/review-
recovery-plan-giant-freshwater-lobster.pdf , p20. 5Threatened Species Section (2006). Giant Freshwater Lobster Astacopsis gouldi Recovery Plan 2006-2010. Department of Primary
Industries and Water, Hobart. http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/078d5e2e-3867-4f69-81f7-
98b4076c4510/files/gouldi.pdf p14 6 Ibid, p15
7 Ibid, p14
8 Todd Walsh personal communication (2016)
9 Threatened Species Section (2006). Giant Freshwater Lobster Astacopsis gouldi Recovery Plan 2006-2010. Department of Primary
Industries and Water, Hobart
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The Tasmanian Forest Agreement established a number of reserves on public land that were
specifically identified, based on expert advice, to protect key habitat for the lobster in these
catchments.
However, the reserve status of this land was altered in 2014 and placed into a form of
future logging tenure, proposed for logging after 2020 (and known as Future Potential
Production Forest Land or FPPF). While still classified as Informal Reserves10
, this land now
sits as ‘unallocated crown land’ designated through policy and legislative intent to be
returned to the publicly owned, commercial forestry estate.
Table 1: hectares of Unallocated Crown Land (FPPF recognised as Informal Reserves) in
Lobster Priority Subcatchments
Lobster Priority Subcatchment Unallocated Crown Land
(hectares)
Black and Dip Rivers 7,730
Flowerdale and Hebe Rivers 2,394
Frankland, Leigh and Lindsay Rivers 10,476
Horton River 13,405
Rapid River 3,634
Total 37,639
As announced in October 2016, the stated intent of the Tasmanian Government is to seek
legislative changes to reverse reservation and annul protection to enable logging to
commence in these areas as early as 2018.
This legislative reversal of conservation reserves specifically designed to help address
lobster habitat protection on public land conflicts with the longstanding strategy in the
recovery plan to ‘increase the total area of giant freshwater lobster habitat that is reserved’.
In addition it would create a range of other economic and certification issues for the logging
industry stoke community conflict and undermine recovery efforts for a number of
threatened species.
10
http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/tas%20reserve%20class%20areas%2030th%20june%202015.pdf
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This situation presents a simple, logical opportunity for the gazettal of new conservation
reserves on public land as a key contribution to the protection of the species. In particular,
conversion of these unallocated crown lands to dedicated nature conservation reserves
would make a considerable contribution to protecting the species, with very substantial and
often comprehensive contributions to securing species’ populations in key sub-catchments.
The Wilderness Society recommends the permanent formal reservation of these areas of
unallocated crown land under the Nature Conservation Act, together with contiguous areas
of high conservation value, under tenures that support the most effective conservation
management.
5.1 Lobster Forests Nature Reserve
It is recommended that a specific ‘Lobster Forests Nature Reserve’ is established to
encompass the lower sections of the Dip and Black River subcatchments, and the
Flowerdale-Hebe subcatchment above the Lapoinya Road bridge. These areas of unallocated
crown land total 7300 hectares.
While the most critical action remains the formal reservation of key unreserved habitat
areas, existing formal reserves adjacent to these areas should be gazetted as part of the
Lobster Forests Nature Reserve. This includes the Flowerdale River Regional Reserve, the
Detention Falls Conservation Area, the Dip Range Regional Reserve, the Shakespeare Hills
Regional Reserve and the Dip River Regional Reserve. Amalgamation of all these areas in the
one Lobster Forests Nature Reserve will create a logical reserve boundary encompassing
contiguous areas, all protected under nature conservation legislation.
This would best enable proactive conservation management of discrete protected areas in
catchments that have been heavily impacted by other land uses.
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November 2016
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4.2 Tarkine National Park
For the upper sections of the Dip and Black River subcatchments, the sections of the
Frankland above the Blackwater Road bridge, and the Lindsay, Leigh, Horton and Rapid River
subcatchments, it is recommended that the unallocated crown land in these catchments are
incorporated into the boundaries of the gazettal of a long-proposed Tarkine National Park.
The conservation case for a Tarkine National Park is strong and dates back decades. It
addresses the protection of a range of natural and cultural values across a diverse landscape
of different ecosystems. It encompasses a wild remote coastline, mobile dune systems,
heathland, moorlands, rainforests and mixed eucalypt forests. Throughout these landscapes
flows a raft of wild rivers, some critical habitat to the Lobster. Gazettal of a Tarkine National
Park that includes these key Lobster catchments will greatly contribute to the future survival
of the species.
The area of key Lobster habitat within this proposal totals approximately 30,000 hectares.
National park status for the takayna/Tarkine would provide a strong level of conservation
protection (IUCN category II) whilst allowing management of critical Lobster habitats to be
integrated into that of single contiguous area of land reserves under the Tasmania’s Nature
Conservation Act.
Table 2: Hectares of Unallocated Crown Land in Lobster Priority Subcatchments, by
Reserve Proposal
Reserve Proposal Flowerdale
and Hebe
Rivers (ha)
Black and
Dip Rivers
Frankland,
Leigh, and
Lindsay Rivers
Horton
River
Rapid River Total
Lobster Forests
Nature Reserve
2394 4900 0 0 0 7294
Tarkine National
Park
0 2830 10476 13405 3634 30345
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6. Additional actions required to safeguard the species
In addition to finally meeting the recovery plans’ recommendation of increased reservation
of public land in key Lobster habitat, the Wilderness Society made additional
recommendations in its submission to the draft recovery plan.11
This included the
recommendation that landscape-wide management plans be developed to ensure effective
management of the species across all land tenures. Landscape management should also
include riparian prescriptions that address the protection of critical ‘headwater’ habitat -
conservation needs that have been identified through recent research.12
7. Conclusion
An increase in the amount of public land formally reserves to protect the Giant Freshwater
Lobster has long been a recommendation of recovery plans and remains a key action
advised by scientists and experts working to understand and safeguard the species.
While progress has been made in implementation of other critical actions, such as changing
public behaviours to honour a fishing ban and reduce poaching, it remains perplexing that
Government continues to ignore the science and recommendations of its own recovery
plans with regards to meeting conservation needs on public land through the gazettal of
formal reserves.
While all Tasmanians can take responsibility for honouring and policing the fishing ban and
private landowners are being called upon to help protect and restore habitat on their own
land, only Government, with the support of Parliament, can implement the
recommendations to formally reserve additional areas of public land.
Much work has been done to understand the needs of the species and identify the priority
areas for reservation. There is little to no contention over which areas require protection.
This proposal calls on Government to finally take action to meet the needs of the species
through the creation of dedicated, formal reserves on identified areas of public land.
11
Wilderness Society (2016) Submission on the Recovery Plan for the Giant Freshwater Crayfish.
https://www.wilderness.org.au/sites/default/files/PDFS/giantfreshwatercrayfishrecoveryplansubmission.pdf 12
Davies PE, Cook LSJ, Mallick SA and Munks SA (2016). Relating upstream forest management to stream ecosystem condition in middle
catchment reaches in Tasmania. Forest Ecology and Management 362, 142-155.