Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747:reg:4:p33
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 33/80)
Character Range: 95460–98327

the burden of cat predation across all native species using integrated management of habitat and species interactions over large areas.

Note that because these objectives are structured according to the cat-susceptibility of native species, many actions will provide benefits across objectives; for example, many of the actions in Objectives 6 and 7 will also benefit the native species that are the focus of Objective 8.

Objective 9 – Reduce density of free-roaming cats around areas of human habitation and infrastructure.

This plan primarily addresses the threat of predation by feral cats, but acknowledges and considers: 1) the role of cats as vectors for pathogens causing serious disease in native species, livestock and people; and 2) that pet cats also cause predation (and disease) impacts on native species, and can become a source for the feral cat population, especially around human habitation and infrastructure. Any plan to reduce predation impacts from cats must also consider how to reduce predation by pet cats, and how to stop pet cats from being an ongoing source for the feral cat population. This plan therefore approaches the issue of feral and pet cat management in an integrated way, noting that specific actions for both feral and pet cat management will vary with the local social, planning, and geographic context.

Note: Consistent with Principle 2, the management objectives, expertise and knowledge of First Nations people are important in guiding the management of feral cats, and management needs to be appropriate to local contexts including local cultural values and perspectives. This is why actions involving First Nations people feature across the objectives of this plan.

      Figure 2 A diagram showing the relationships between the 9 objectives

Actions under Objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4 will enable actions in Objectives 5 to 9. Objectives 6, 7 and 8 address the conservation of native species that vary in their susceptibility to cat predation. The most intensive cat control and management is needed for the species that are the subject of Objective 6, and the actions required (e.g. creating cat-free islands and fenced areas) will benefit a smaller number of native species, over a smaller geographic extent, than actions in Objectives 7 and 8.

Many of the actions detailed in the following sections are linked and dependent upon other actions. The management of cats is a complex challenge and requires coordinated and integrated actions across many fields. To help contextualise individual actions, for each of the on-ground objectives (Objectives 5-9) a diagrammatic representation is used to indicate the linkages between inter-related main actions.

Detail is provided for each objective, including the rationale behind them and the performance criteria to be used to evaluate progress at 5 years (2029) and 10