Commercial Kangaroo Harvesting

For more detail, refer to Sections 3.9.5 and 6.4 in the ACT Kangaroo Management Plan.

Commercial kangaroo harvesting is shooting wild, free-ranging kangaroos to gain an economic return from the sale of their meat and hides. This is distinguished from kangaroo culling (also known as ‘damage mitigation culling’) which aims to reduce kangaroo numbers to achieve other objectives such as reduced grazing pressure. Commercial harvesting operates under state-based management plans approved by the Commonwealth Government under provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999. The ACT, Tasmania, Victoria and the Northern Territory, do not currently participate in the commercial kangaroo harvesting industry, although Tasmania commercially harvests other native fauna.

Ecologically Sustainable

Originally kangaroo harvesting was seen as pest control, aimed at reducing kangaroo numbers, whereas the modern commercial kangaroo harvesting industry views kangaroo populations as a resource to be managed sustainably. For example the goal of the current NSW commercial harvest plan is: To maintain viable populations of kangaroos through out their ranges in accordance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development. In order to ensure ecological sustainability, the harvest strategy in all states is based on a percentage of the kangaroo population (generally 15–20% depending on the species). Community concerns about kangaroo harvesting are discussed at Sections 3.10 and 6.6 in the ACT Kangaroo Management Plan.

Commercial Harvest: South–Eastern New South Wales

Following a trial period, the area surrounding the ACT (South–East Kangaroo Management Zone), has been included in the NSW Commercial Harvest Plan 2007–2011. Regular monitoring is a key element of the harvesting plan and population estimates are undertaken by the NSW Government every three years in all commercial harvest plans.

Kangaroo Harvesting unlikely in the ACT

A kangaroo harvesting industry remains unlikely in the ACT for the foreseeable future because:

• The costs of establishing, administering and monitoring a commercial operation are likely to be significant. Given the relatively small harvest that would be involved, the operation is unlikely to be cost–effective for the ACT Government.
• An ACT industry would need to be integrated with the NSW South–East Zone and the ACT would still need to prepare and regularly update a Management Plan for Commonwealth approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
• A commercial harvest quota of 15 per cent on ACT rural land (the maximum normally allowed) is less than one-third of the number allowed to be shot from 1998 to 2007 on ACT land for damage mitigation.
• The small number of kangaroos which would be taken for sustainable commercial harvesting would probably not achieve desirable reductions in grazing pressure.
• Rural lessees would be unlikely to gain a direct economic benefit from commercial harvesting (e.g: payment for kangaroos taken). In New South Wales, graziers are not significant participants in the industry.
• Commercial kangaroo harvesting is the primary focus of animal rights organisations opposed to killing of kangaroos. A commercial operation in the National Capital would probably draw significant negative publicity and increased protest action.
• In contrast to the above, a survey of ACT residents in 2008 found a moderately high level of support for the use of the kangaroos shot annually. Survey results indicated 53% were supportive/very supportive; 26% were not very supportive/not at all supportive; while 22% were unsure.

Refer to the ACT Kangaroo Management Plan for more detail.