Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220:reg:2:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 8/20)
Character Range: 47603–50471

this technology is still only in its infancy for applications in vertebrate pest species there is potential for population suppression through guiding changes to particular genes that alter the sex bias of new animals or sensitize a species to a particular toxin.  It should be noted that this is a long-term potential technology and is not likely to be realized for feral cat control within the life time of this threat abatement plan.
These ideas are captured in Action 1.8. The search for new biological tools, and any subsequent research on promising agents or biotechnology options, will need to consider the risk to and protections for domestic cats and to other felid species internationally should the agent or technology escape from the country. In addition, the potential suffering of the feral cats must also be taken into account as a biological control that involves prolonged suffering is unlikely to be accepted for release. If a promising agent or technology is identified, social research would need to be undertaken to ensure there would be community understanding and support for a potential release.  An effective method for gauging community support could be via a deliberative process of decision-making (for example an iterative approach using a focus group or citizen jury to listen to experts, discuss the rationale for their views, and modify their views following the discussion and feedback).
Captured within this action is also the concept of an indirect control for feral cats through a reduction in abundance of some of their introduced prey species (ie. rabbit, black rat, house mouse), which may be done through improved biological controls for those species.

Action 1.9 Code of Practice and/or Standard Operating Procedures developed for new tools and agreed by governments
There is a nationally agreed Code of practice for the humane control of feral cats (Sharp & Saunders 2010) and Standard operating procedures for ground-shooting of feral cats, trapping of feral cats using cage traps and trapping of feral cats using padded-jaw traps (Sharp 2012a; Sharp 2012b; Sharp 2012c). As new tools become available the code of practice will require updating and new standard operating procedures may be required. Standard operating procedures will also require updating as technology (e.g. suitable firearms) changes. In particular, standard operating procedures are required for baiting with the different toxins, 1080 and PAPP, and for feral cat-proof fencing. Note that state or territory legislation must also be complied with when managing feral cats. In developing a new code of practice or standard operating procedure the tool should be assessed through the model for assessing the relative humaneness of pest animal control methods (Sharp & Saunders, 2008). Action 1.9 seeks these updates or new documents, consultation with all