Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L01040:body:0:p31
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L01040
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 126136–129377

related to high in-stream biodiversity (Boulton & Brock 1999) and contribute to the floristic diversity of off-reserve areas. Benefits can be effectively achieved by measures to raise awareness of freshwater environments and their conservation management requirements, and by encouraging implementation of management through private and community projects, private land conservation agreements, and forest and agricultural industry management prescriptions and codes of practice.

11 Social and economic considerations
Habitat degradation threatens the giant freshwater crayfish and may largely exclude the species from areas, perhaps traditionally utilised for feeding or spawning, where they were historically much more abundant. Due to their distribution in rivers across northern Tasmania, often in close proximity to forestry or agricultural land uses, giant freshwater crayfish populations could be adversely affected by habitat degradation arising from anthropogenic activities in these regions. As habitats critical to the survival of the species are identified, there is potential for developments to be restricted under the EPBC Act assessment and approval process. Any measures to assist recovery of this species that involve restrictions on the use of riparian land may result in economic impacts to affected industries. Conversely, the positive engagement of the forestry sector with the actions and objectives outlined in this recovery plan may have a positive economic benefit in terms of increased likelihood of achieving certification through forestry industry certification bodies.
Increased protection of giant freshwater crayfish habitat is expected to result in significant improvements in water quality which are likely to be economically and socially advantageous. For example, improved water quality can significantly reduce the costs associated with water treatment processes and is also likely to convey positive social benefits in terms of increased recreational and aesthetic values. Increased public awareness of the giant freshwater crayfish and its undisturbed forest habitat may bring social and economic advantages through tourism.

12 Affected interests
Organisations with an interest in the actions proposed in this plan include Australian and state governments agencies, particularly those with environmental and fisheries concerns; forestry operators, forestry industry certification bodies; recreational fishers; local Indigenous communities; researchers; tourism operators; conservation groups; wildlife interest groups; and proponents of urban or other development in the vicinity of important crayfish habitat. This list, however, should not be considered exhaustive, as there may be other interest groups that would like to be included in the future or need to be considered when specialised tasks are required in the recovery process.

13 Consultation
The Recovery Plan for the Giant Freshwater Crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) (2016) has been developed through ongoing consultation with a broad range of stakeholders. The consultation process commenced with a workshop in Tasmania that brought together key species experts, conservation managers and land managers, to categorize ongoing threats to the