Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L01040:body:0:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L01040
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 15291–18763

to incorporate future research into ongoing forestry management. Mechanisms have been slower to improve in other sectors/tenures such as agriculture and dam constructions.

                                                                                                  Community awareness programs were very effective in the early days of the plan, however due to funding restrictions scope was limited.
Monitor and assess A.                                                                             Good baseline monitoring was conducted, and regularly occurring, when the plan was implemented. Though funding restraints limited ongoing monitoring. An increase in the size of adults has been documented. However, ongoing monitoring is needed to assess population trends.
Gouldi populations and habitats.
Increase understanding of A. gouldi biology and conservation requirements to improve management.  Some knowledge of movement has been gained but further genetic studies would aid understanding of relationships between populations and meta-population movements. Considerable research has been conducted by the FPA on potential impacts associated with forestry activities, and management prescriptions have been regularly updated in response. Further research is needed to improve understanding of impacts to environmental flows and water temperatures.
Coordinate implementation of the recovery program.                                                Recovery plan implementation progressed well, given funding constraints. Implementation and financing of some actions was largely undertaken by Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management Group, DPIPWE and the FPA.

Threats to the giant freshwater crayfish include illegal fishing pressure, large-scale habitat disturbance or loss, siltation of waterways, drought and climate change. However, at the workshop to review the 2006 recovery plan, land clearing and habitat disturbance were identified as potentially the most significant threat currently impacting upon the species. In particular, any form of land clearing or habitat disturbance that resulted in increased siltation of waterways, including in-stream erosion, bank destabilisation, slope run-off and clearing in upstream reaches of catchments supporting giant freshwater crayfish populations, was considered high risk. Such activities can affect the ability of giant freshwater crayfish to transpire oxygen through the gills (Eastman & Eastman 2007), and have a considerable impact on the life cycle of giant freshwater crayfish, particularly affecting the species' juvenile life stage.

This recovery plan sets out the research and management actions necessary to stop the decline, and support the recovery, of the giant freshwater crayfish in Australia. The overarching objectives of this recovery plan are to:
        * Identify, conserve and manage key locations to support increasing populations of the giant freshwater crayfish, with a healthy demographic structure.
        * Address threats and improve habitat quality across the species' range.
To achieve these objectives a range of strategies will be employed, including: reducing the impacts of habitat degradation and illegal fishing; improving habitat quality and increasing habitat protection; increasing understanding of the species biology and ecology, and its ability to recover from past threats; and promoting the giant freshwater crayfish as a flagship species for healthy catchment