Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01763:reg:8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01763
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 8
Character Range: 30066–33029

8                  Objectives
The primary objective of this recovery plan is to assist the recovery of sawfish and river sharks in Australian waters with a view to:
    * improving the population status leading to the removal of the sawfish and river shark species from the threatened species list of the EPBC Act
    * ensuring that anthropogenic activities do not hinder recovery in the near future, or impact on the conservation status of the species in the future.
The specific objectives of the recovery plan are to:
         Objective 1:    Reduce and, where possible, eliminate adverse impacts of commercial fishing on sawfish and river shark species.
         Objective 2:    Reduce and, where possible, eliminate adverse impacts of recreational fishing on sawfish and river shark species.
         Objective 3:    Reduce and, where possible, eliminate adverse impacts of Indigenous fishing on sawfish and river shark species.
         Objective 4:    Reduce and, where possible, eliminate the impact of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU) on sawfish and river shark species.
         Objective 5:    Reduce and, where possible, eliminate adverse impacts of habitat degradation and modification on sawfish and river shark species.
         Objective 6:    Reduce and, where possible, eliminate any adverse impacts of marine debris on sawfish and river shark species noting the linkages with the Threat Abatement Plan for the Impact of Marine Debris on Vertebrate Marine Life.
         Objective 7:    Reduce and, where possible, eliminate any adverse impacts of collection for public aquaria on sawfish and river shark species.
         Objective 8:    Improve the information base to allow the development of a quantitative framework to assess the recovery of, and inform management options for, sawfish and river shark species.
         Objective 9:    Develop research programs to assist conservation of sawfish and river shark species.
         Objective 10:  Improve community understanding and awareness in relation to sawfish and river shark conservation and management.

     8.1                Criteria for success
This recovery plan will be deemed successful if, within 10 years, all of the following have been achieved:
    * Interactions with, and mortality of, sawfish and river sharks are accurately measured and significantly reduced in commercial and recreational fisheries.
    * An empirical monitoring programme(s) is established to measure population trends with a view to assessing recovery in the long term (i.e. 10 or more years).
    * An upward trend in population size is demonstrated through an empirical monitoring programme(s) in the long term (i.e. 10 or more years).
    * Habitat critical to the survival of each species of sawfish and river shark has been identified and mapped.
    * Appropriate measures have been put in place to manage key threats to all sawfish and river sharks included in this plan.