Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747:reg:4:p49
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 49/80)
Character Range: 170929–177972

native species to the disease is better understood.                                             2029 and 2034
The impacts of varying levels of cat predation on population viability across at least 50% of threatened species that are of extreme or high susceptibility are described.                                                                                                               2034

Actions

      Table 7 Objective 3 Actions

Objective 3. Undertake research on cat ecology and impacts to inform management undertaken across multiple objectives  Relative priority                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Cost    Responsibility  Timelines
Enhance knowledge
3.1                                                                                                                    Improve knowledge of the biodiversity value of islands; and the occurrence of cats on islands (informs Objectives 5 and 6):                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    High    Very High       Researchers; Commonwealth, state and territory governments; Traditional Owners  Starting immediately
                                                                                                                            * Survey of islands, focusing on those more than 10 ha (the smallest island area known to have a cat population is 8 ha), for which occupancy by cats is unknown, to confirm the presence or absence of cats, and other vertebrate pests; and to document biodiversity values, including seabird breeding colonies.
3.2                                                                                                                    Improve understanding of cat impacts, with a combination of autecological studies of cat-susceptible species, expert elicitation and population viability analyses (inform Objectives 5-9):                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    High    High            Researchers                                                                     Starting in the period 2024-2029
                                                                                                                            * Continue to refine and update the evidence base and assessments of which native species are most susceptible to cat predation, when and why.
                                                                                                                            * Find the thresholds of cat density at which population-level impacts on native species become evident.
                                                                                                                            * Include some select native species occurring in areas near human habitation and infrastructure (cross-reference with Action 9.3).
3.3                                                                                                                    Design and implement surveillance monitoring that may detect increased cat impacts at locations where cat-susceptible species are still abundant (informs Objectives 7, 8, 9):                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Medium  High            Researchers; Commonwealth, state and territory governments; NGOs                Starting immediately
                                                                                                                            * Monitor cat activity or density (and ideally, their prey and other species that cats may interact with, such as potential competitors) at locations where cat-susceptible species are still abundant even though cats are present (e.g. Tasmania, rugged areas of the northwest Kimberley, southwest Western Australia, Groote Eylandt, wet forests and rainforests of the east coast), to ensure any increases in cat activity and/or density are picked up promptly and can inform management response. This information may be available via actions in Objective 2, but any gaps should be filled.
                                                                                                                       This will complement the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 Targets 8 and 9, to manage cats in all areas of important habitat for cat-susceptible priority species, and in all priority places where the condition of those places is threatened by cats.
3.4                                                                                                                    Investigate prevalence and impacts of cat-borne disease-causing pathogens in cats and native wildlife, and options for responses.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Medium  Medium          Researchers                                                                     Starting in the period 2024-2029
3.5                                                                                                                    Undertake fundamental research on cat ecology to inform the design and implementation