Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002:front:0:p55
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 159805–162932

wildlife and as a significant site for scientific research.

Commercial fishing targeting barramundi, salmon and mud crabs occurred within the park until 1989. Commercial fishing has not been allowed in the park since that time. At the time of preparing this plan, six commercial fishing operations were working along the Kakadu coastline, with at least one operation working the area full time during the commercial barramundi season.

A decision by the Northern Territory Government in February 2013 to close the area between Kakadu and the Finniss River to all commercial fishing has reduced the area available for the commercial harvest of barramundi. A proposed closure of waters near Darwin to recreational fishing may place more pressure on Kakadu coastal areas and infrastructure by recreational fishers and fishing tour operators. Incidents of illegal fishing occur in the park. Fishing in marine and coastal areas will be managed in accordance with Sections 10.7 (Recreational activities) and 10.10 (Commercial fishing) of this plan.

Values and condition

Kakadu's freshwater and saltwater country:

    * contains near-pristine rivers and creeks, connected from their source in the stone country to the coast

    * supports a great diversity of habitats including springs and perched swamps, large rivers, seasonally flooded freshwater floodplains and wetlands and tidally influenced mudflats and mangroves

    * provides important habitat and refuge for vast numbers of waterbird species, including records of more than two million Magpie Geese and ducks, and significant numbers of other species such as egrets, ibis, brolga and migratory shorebirds

    * provides important habitat for 27 threatened species, including internationally threatened sawfishes, river sharks, marine turtles and dugong, and those with a restricted range such as the yellow chat (Alligator River subspecies) and the plains death adder

    * illustrates a highly dynamic and productive ecological system over multiple scales (seasonal to millennia)

    * supports intact coastal vegetation, namely mangroves, and largely undisturbed islands, of which there are relatively few protected in the conservation network in the Northern Territory

    * represents a long-standing cultural interaction with the landscape through fire management and is culturally significant as a source of food

    * supports high freshwater and estuarine fish and aquatic invertebrate diversity;

    * supports significant populations of saltwater (Crocodylus porosus) and freshwater (Crocodylus johnstoni) crocodiles and a population of the pig-nosed turtle.

The condition of wetland areas in the park varies, but is generally very good compared with other wetlands globally. However, large areas of floodplain are being significantly impacted by weeds, and wetlands and springs in the stone country are being degraded by pigs and buffaloes. Popular visitor sites in coastal areas have also experienced some localised degradation associated with unregulated use.

Marine and riverine environments within the park potentially have the best-protected