Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2009L02536:reg:2:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2009L02536
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 3/3)
Character Range: 10360–11977

social and economic pest on islands inhabited by people. For example, the palm seed horticultural industry on Lord Howe Island would benefit by over $5 million over 30 years if ship rats could be eradicated.

2.4                   Managing the threat
The options to manage exotic rodents on Australian islands are to eradicate them, to reduce them to some lower density over all or part of the island by sustained control, or to do nothing when neither of the above is possible or when there is no need. Unlike some threats to biodiversity in Australia, the threat from exotic rodents on islands can in large part be removed at a realistic cost to provide clear and permanent benefits.

Managing invasion pathways and new incursions is also required for the islands undergoing eradication or control programs, as well as for islands without exotic rodents. The optimal way to reduce invasion risks – by pre-border, on-ship, or post-border actions – will depend very much on the particular risks, costs and consequences for each island.

The tools to achieve eradication are well-tested elsewhere in the world and in Western Australia. The tools to achieve sustained control are available but their optimal application needs to be refined for each case. The tools to limit, detect and manage invasions include the need for new policies to encourage or enforce quarantine practices and better methods to detect and intercept invasive rodents.

Australian agencies have eradicated exotic rodents from 39 islands and are currently planning to do so from four more: Macquarie, Lord Howe, Montague and Mutton Bird islands.