Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747:reg:4:p29
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 29/80)
Character Range: 84471–87481

but would be less likely to be so affected if feral cat densities, and/or pet cat roaming, were reduced.

    * The sustainability of the action:

     -            Actions that result in enduring benefits (e.g. eradicating feral cats from an island) and actions that can be continued indefinitely because they are inexpensive or have other benefits that drive their continuance (e.g. rabbit control) are preferred to short-term, less sustainable options, all else being equal.

4. Cat management should occur within an evidence-based and adaptive management framework, where monitoring leads to continual improvements in knowledge and refinement of management actions.

Feral cat control programs should be designed based on the best evidence available at the time, and the effectiveness of cat management should be rigorously monitored, with the outputs from monitoring made publicly available and used to refine ongoing management.

Although much is known of cat ecology, impacts and feral cat control, there remain some key knowledge gaps that constrain understanding of cat impacts, and the effectiveness of feral cat control options. Cat management can and should be improved with research that adds to an even more robust and comprehensive evidence base.

5. Feral cat management should consider a broad ecological context – where applicable, including the potential consequences on other feral animals, and conducted in a manner that integrates pest control for biodiversity outcomes.

Feral cats are a component of dynamic ecological systems, and have strong links with many other species, including some other pest species. Feral cat management should be integrated with concurrent management for introduced rodents, foxes and rabbits, to optimise overall conservation benefits. For example:

    * Where possible, feral cat control should be combined with fox control, to seek an overall reduction in the pressure imposed by introduced predators.

    * Feral cat control planning and operations should consider consequences for other pest species, including rabbits and introduced rodents, and aim to avoid or reduce potential perverse outcomes.

    * Actions taken primarily to manage other vertebrate pests (especially foxes, rabbits and rodents) should take account of any impacts of those actions on feral cats.

6. The priority accorded to the management of feral cats should be commensurate with the ongoing severe impacts of cat predation on much of Australia's fauna, including many threatened species, and with the magnitude of beneficial impacts likely to arise from feral cat control.

Given the number of species affected by the threat posed by cats and the EPBC Act's stipulation that a threat abatement plan should 'maximise the chances of the long-term survival' of affected species, the implementation of this plan is an important component of efforts to conserve and recover Australia's biodiversity. The significance of this threat is further recognised in the Threatened Species