Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00300:body:0:p27
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00300
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 104886–108024

them from areas, perhaps traditionally utilised for feeding or spawning, where they were historically much more abundant. Due to their distribution in shallow coastal habitats in close proximity to urban and industrial areas handfish, particularly spotted handfish, populations could be adversely affected by coastal habitat degradation and anthropogenic activities in these regions (DEP, 2013). As habitats critical to the survival of the species' are identified, there is potential for developments to be restricted under the EPBC Act development assessment and approval process.
Recreational boating has the potential to impact upon handfish species, particularly spotted handfish, due to the use of traditional block and chain swing moorings which can have significant localised impacts on benthic habitat in sensitive areas (SEQ Catchments, 2014). In the Derwent Estuary a large number of traditional boat moorings are located in known, historic or potential spotted handfish habitats (Green, pers comm., 2014). The actions outlined in this recovery plan in relation to recreational boating focus on designing and implementing a plan to reduce the impacts of traditional moorings on handfish.

12 Affected interests
Organisations likely to be affected by the actions proposed in this plan include Australian and state governments agencies, particularly those with environmental and fisheries concerns; commercial and recreational fishers; local Indigenous communities; researchers; tourism operators and scuba diving operators/clubs; conservation groups; wildlife interest groups; aquarium managers and proponents of coastal development in the vicinity of important handfish habitat. This list, however, should not be considered exhaustive, as there may be other interest groups that would like to be included in the future or need to be considered when specialised tasks are required in the recovery process.

13 Consultation
The Recovery Plan for Three Handfish Species (2015) has been developed through extensive consultation with a broad range of stakeholders. The consultation process included a workshop in Tasmania that brought together key species experts and conservation managers, from a range of different organizations, to categorize ongoing threats to the three species covered by this plan, and identify knowledge gaps and potential management options. Workshop participants included representatives from DotE, DPIPWE, CSIRO, researchers from UTAS and local community groups. During the drafting processing the Department of the Environment (Cwlth) continued to work closely with key stakeholders.

14 Organisations/persons involved in evaluating the performance of the plan
This plan should be reviewed no later than five years from when it was endorsed and made publically available. The review will determine the performance of the plan and assess:
    * whether the plan continues unchanged, is varied to remove completed actions, or varied to include new conservation priorities
    * whether a recovery plan is no longer necessary for the species' as either conservation
      advice will suffice, or the species'