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Lobster Forests Nature Reserve

ReseRve PRoPosalNovembeR 2016

Lobster Nature Reserve Proposal Area

black river

dip river

hebe river

Image: Vica Bayley

Lobster Forests Nature Reserve Proposal

November 2016

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The Wilderness Society

Lobster Forests Nature

Reserve Proposal

Contact:

[email protected]

[email protected]


November 2016

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1. Executive Summary

The giant freshwater lobster (Astacopsis gouldi) is a species of key conservation interest in

Tasmania. Occupying streams in the state’s North, often in forested areas, it is an enigmatic

and iconic species that has long suffered human induced impacts to its population viability.

Fishing and poaching pressure, landclearing and degradation of habitat through industrial

logging have been key processes threatening the survival of the species. Species Recovery

Plans have recommended a suite of actions aimed at stabilizing and recovering lobster

populations, with the most recent in draft form and recently subject to community

consultation.

This reserve proposal contains recommendations to formally reserve particular areas of

unallocated crown land in North West Tasmania under Tasmania's nature conservation

legislation. Based on current scientific knowledge, advice, and the recommendation of

species Recovery Plans (current and draft), this action, in concert with improved landscape

management practices, would make a substantial contribution to securing the future of the

species.

The recommendations are as follows:

Recommendation 1: Formal reservation of lands currently protected as Future

Potential Production Forest (FPPF) land in the priority Lobster sub-catchments of the

Dip, Black, Hebe and Flowerdale Rivers as part of a dedicated Lobster Forests Nature

Reserve. This reserve should also encompass existing areas of formal reserve

adjacent to the identified areas of FPPF land.

Recommendation 2: The formal reservation of lands currently protected as Future

Potential Production Forest land in the priority Lobster sub-catchments of the Upper

Frankland, Leigh, Lindsay, Horton and Rapid River, as one part of a broader Tarkine

National Park declaration.

Recommendation 3: The development of management plans across these and

contiguous protected areas, production forest, and freehold lands that ensure cross

tenure management is focused on the conservation and recovery of the Giant

Freshwater Lobster.


November 2016

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Recommendation 4: In addition to protection of unallocated crown land in priority

subcatchments, landscape protections should include the expansion of riparian

protections to critical ‘headwaters’ habitat, in line with recent research findings.

2. Giant Freshwater Lobster - Conservation Status

The giant freshwater lobster is a species endemic to Tasmania. It is the world’s largest

freshwater lobster, with recorded specimens growing up to 1 metre long and to a weighing

up to 6 kilograms. Inhabiting the catchments of northern Tasmania, the species holds

enduring public interest.

The species is listed as vulnerable under Australian and Tasmanian legislation, and as

endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Substantial efforts have been undertaken in relation to fishing bans, poaching control

efforts, voluntary habitat restoration and forestry prescriptions, however localised

extinctions are believed to have occurred in some catchments. Key scientific and Recovery

Plan recommendations pertaining to the reservation of critical habitat on public land have

been repeatedly ignored by Governments. This proposal seeks to address this failure.

3. Species Extent

Giant freshwater lobsters have different habitat preferences depending on different life

stages. They are however, restricted to river catchments of northern Tasmania that flow

into Bass Strait, and the Arthur catchment flowing into the Indian Ocean on the

takayna/Tarkine coast.

In general, the species is restricted to rivers and streams below an altitude of approximately

400m above sea level and these areas are described as key habitat requiring additional

levels of reservation. Above this altitude, headwater streams in upper catchments, while

not housing populations of lobsters, require additional protections from degradation as they

are important for maintaining water quality in downstream areas of critical habitat.

The species prefers well shaded streams with reliable water flows of good quality with low

sedimentation. Across its lifecycle, the species requires a diversity of under surface

environments, from large logs and snags, undercut banks, shingle rapids and deep pools. It

is known to travel over-land to seek out new, suitable habitat.


November 2016

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Populations in north east and central northern Tasmania have been heavily impacted by

fishing, mining related pollution, landclearing and industrial logging that degrades key

habitat and water quality, increasing sedimentation that makes recruitment of juvenile

lobsters difficult. As the 2016 review of the national recovery plan of the giant freshwater

lobster (the review) notes , the species has suffered ‘probable localised extinctions’ in

catchments in northeast Tasmania, with surveys undertaken in 2009/10 showing ‘that

massive sediment loads had decimated the population in most downstream areas of the

catchments’.1

Without doubt, the most viable populations of the species are now restricted to northwest

Tasmania. With genetic diversity across the population believed to be low, the

reestablishment of populations in catchments where the species is believed extinct is

possible and a recommendation of the draft Recovery Plan.

4. Species Recovery Plans

The recent publication of the review into the current Recovery Plan and release for public

comment of a new draft of the Recovery Plan, provides good advice and sound

recommendations regarding critical actions that need to be taken to secure the future of

the species. Some recommendations have been informed by new research into the

importance of management of headwater streams to manage downstream water quality

issues.

The review of the 2006 Recovery Plan is clear that despite some successes, more action is

required to protect the species.

It is clear that the story of recovery for this species is mixed, in regards to localised

populations, actual delivery of habitat protection strategies, and implementation of other

planned measures to achieve recovery.

Anecdotal evidence in 2016, of mass population mortality through extreme flooding events

in some important habitat catchments highlights the precarious state of the species, the

impact of uncontrollable external events and the dire need for both sound recovery

planning and actual implementation of effective conservation strategies.

In concert with major population declines in some catchments in the species’ strongholds in

1 Australian Department of Environment (2015) Review of the national recovery plan for the Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Lobster

(Astacopsis gouldi). https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/005e8904-6602-4de1-b32f-64a58af3a63f/files/review-

recovery-plan-giant-freshwater-lobster.pdf . p17


November 2016

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north west Tasmania, mass mortality events and the lack of recovery of populations in

heavily degraded catchments, there is substantial cause for concern.

Conversely, the stabilisation of populations in suitable quality habitats and the increase in

size of monitored crayfish indicate positive progress, particularly in regards to fishing bans,

poaching prevention and improvements in some aspects of habitat protection.

The conclusion of the recovery plan review states that:

It appears likely that overall, the population of A. gouldi is slowly recovering,

particularly in the north-west of the State. Preliminary indications from the north-

east of the State are that the populations in that region are severely fragmented and

impacted.2

We note, however, the qualified nature of that assessment, and the very clear need to

undertake ongoing monitoring to accurately assess the conservation trajectory of the

species.

In regards to ongoing actions, the most substantial class of outstanding actions required are

measures to reduce habitat disturbance in headwater stream to avoid downstream

sedimentation, providing support for private land management and habitat restoration, and

the protection of catchment areas with resident, critical populations.3

The Wilderness Society strongly supports the measures outlined in the recovery plan review

and draft plan to increase the area of public land gazetted as formal protected areas in

Lobster strongholds. The Lobster Forest Nature Reserve proposal seeks to advance these

actions by proposing specific areas for reservation, in the hope and expectation of a positive

investment from the Tasmanian Government in the preservation of this iconic Tasmanian

species.

2 Ibid

3 Ibid


November 2016

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5. New conservation reserves - A major contribution to long

term viability

The Wilderness Society notes that the 2016 recovery plan review identified that a 30,000ha

increase in the total area of reserves on public land, ‘may greatly reduce the need for any

active management of this species’.4 This points to the well-recognised conservation value

of securing the viability of threatened species through permanent protection of key habitats

from threats, through formal protected areas.

The current Recovery Plan (2006-10)5, based on the work of Lynch and Blundhorn (2007)

and Walsh (2003), identified the need for reservation of a number of important locations for

the lobster.

The limited progress meeting recommendations to increase permanent reservation of

priority catchments for the species is reflected in the 2016 recovery plan review. The review

notes that ‘key areas requiring protection have been identified on multiple occasions. This

information needs to be incorporated into future management and recovery efforts’6 and

that ‘public land reserves have not been set aside for this species’7. As the review

recognises, the major remaining strongholds for habitat and population density are the

Arthur, Frankland, Black, Dip, Flowerdale and Leven Rivers.

Within these areas, there are specific sub-catchments with known population occurrences

and high quality habitat89

, including:

● Black-Detention Catchment, specifically the Black and Dip River subcatchments;

● Arthur catchment, specifically the Upper Frankland sub-catchment, the Horton

River, and the Rapid River; and

● Inglis-Flowerdale catchment, specifically the Flowerdale/Hebe subcatchment.

4 Australian Department of Environment (2015) Review of the national recovery plan for the Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Lobster

(Astacopsis gouldi). https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/005e8904-6602-4de1-b32f-64a58af3a63f/files/review-

recovery-plan-giant-freshwater-lobster.pdf , p20. 5Threatened Species Section (2006). Giant Freshwater Lobster Astacopsis gouldi Recovery Plan 2006-2010. Department of Primary

Industries and Water, Hobart. http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/078d5e2e-3867-4f69-81f7-

98b4076c4510/files/gouldi.pdf p14 6 Ibid, p15

7 Ibid, p14

8 Todd Walsh personal communication (2016)

9 Threatened Species Section (2006). Giant Freshwater Lobster Astacopsis gouldi Recovery Plan 2006-2010. Department of Primary

Industries and Water, Hobart


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The Tasmanian Forest Agreement established a number of reserves on public land that were

specifically identified, based on expert advice, to protect key habitat for the lobster in these

catchments.

However, the reserve status of this land was altered in 2014 and placed into a form of

future logging tenure, proposed for logging after 2020 (and known as Future Potential

Production Forest Land or FPPF). While still classified as Informal Reserves10

, this land now

sits as ‘unallocated crown land’ designated through policy and legislative intent to be

returned to the publicly owned, commercial forestry estate.

Table 1: hectares of Unallocated Crown Land (FPPF recognised as Informal Reserves) in

Lobster Priority Subcatchments

Lobster Priority Subcatchment Unallocated Crown Land

(hectares)

Black and Dip Rivers 7,730

Flowerdale and Hebe Rivers 2,394

Frankland, Leigh and Lindsay Rivers 10,476

Horton River 13,405

Rapid River 3,634

Total 37,639

As announced in October 2016, the stated intent of the Tasmanian Government is to seek

legislative changes to reverse reservation and annul protection to enable logging to

commence in these areas as early as 2018.

This legislative reversal of conservation reserves specifically designed to help address

lobster habitat protection on public land conflicts with the longstanding strategy in the

recovery plan to ‘increase the total area of giant freshwater lobster habitat that is reserved’.

In addition it would create a range of other economic and certification issues for the logging

industry stoke community conflict and undermine recovery efforts for a number of

threatened species.

10

http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/tas%20reserve%20class%20areas%2030th%20june%202015.pdf


November 2016

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This situation presents a simple, logical opportunity for the gazettal of new conservation

reserves on public land as a key contribution to the protection of the species. In particular,

conversion of these unallocated crown lands to dedicated nature conservation reserves

would make a considerable contribution to protecting the species, with very substantial and

often comprehensive contributions to securing species’ populations in key sub-catchments.

The Wilderness Society recommends the permanent formal reservation of these areas of

unallocated crown land under the Nature Conservation Act, together with contiguous areas

of high conservation value, under tenures that support the most effective conservation

management.

5.1 Lobster Forests Nature Reserve

It is recommended that a specific ‘Lobster Forests Nature Reserve’ is established to

encompass the lower sections of the Dip and Black River subcatchments, and the

Flowerdale-Hebe subcatchment above the Lapoinya Road bridge. These areas of unallocated

crown land total 7300 hectares.

While the most critical action remains the formal reservation of key unreserved habitat

areas, existing formal reserves adjacent to these areas should be gazetted as part of the

Lobster Forests Nature Reserve. This includes the Flowerdale River Regional Reserve, the

Detention Falls Conservation Area, the Dip Range Regional Reserve, the Shakespeare Hills

Regional Reserve and the Dip River Regional Reserve. Amalgamation of all these areas in the

one Lobster Forests Nature Reserve will create a logical reserve boundary encompassing

contiguous areas, all protected under nature conservation legislation.

This would best enable proactive conservation management of discrete protected areas in

catchments that have been heavily impacted by other land uses.


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November 2016

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4.2 Tarkine National Park

For the upper sections of the Dip and Black River subcatchments, the sections of the

Frankland above the Blackwater Road bridge, and the Lindsay, Leigh, Horton and Rapid River

subcatchments, it is recommended that the unallocated crown land in these catchments are

incorporated into the boundaries of the gazettal of a long-proposed Tarkine National Park.

The conservation case for a Tarkine National Park is strong and dates back decades. It

addresses the protection of a range of natural and cultural values across a diverse landscape

of different ecosystems. It encompasses a wild remote coastline, mobile dune systems,

heathland, moorlands, rainforests and mixed eucalypt forests. Throughout these landscapes

flows a raft of wild rivers, some critical habitat to the Lobster. Gazettal of a Tarkine National

Park that includes these key Lobster catchments will greatly contribute to the future survival

of the species.

The area of key Lobster habitat within this proposal totals approximately 30,000 hectares.

National park status for the takayna/Tarkine would provide a strong level of conservation

protection (IUCN category II) whilst allowing management of critical Lobster habitats to be

integrated into that of single contiguous area of land reserves under the Tasmania’s Nature

Conservation Act.

Table 2: Hectares of Unallocated Crown Land in Lobster Priority Subcatchments, by

Reserve Proposal

Reserve Proposal Flowerdale

and Hebe

Rivers (ha)

Black and

Dip Rivers

Frankland,

Leigh, and

Lindsay Rivers

Horton

River

Rapid River Total

Lobster Forests

Nature Reserve

2394 4900 0 0 0 7294

Tarkine National

Park

0 2830 10476 13405 3634 30345


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November 2016

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6. Additional actions required to safeguard the species

In addition to finally meeting the recovery plans’ recommendation of increased reservation

of public land in key Lobster habitat, the Wilderness Society made additional

recommendations in its submission to the draft recovery plan.11

This included the

recommendation that landscape-wide management plans be developed to ensure effective

management of the species across all land tenures. Landscape management should also

include riparian prescriptions that address the protection of critical ‘headwater’ habitat -

conservation needs that have been identified through recent research.12

7. Conclusion

An increase in the amount of public land formally reserves to protect the Giant Freshwater

Lobster has long been a recommendation of recovery plans and remains a key action

advised by scientists and experts working to understand and safeguard the species.

While progress has been made in implementation of other critical actions, such as changing

public behaviours to honour a fishing ban and reduce poaching, it remains perplexing that

Government continues to ignore the science and recommendations of its own recovery

plans with regards to meeting conservation needs on public land through the gazettal of

formal reserves.

While all Tasmanians can take responsibility for honouring and policing the fishing ban and

private landowners are being called upon to help protect and restore habitat on their own

land, only Government, with the support of Parliament, can implement the

recommendations to formally reserve additional areas of public land.

Much work has been done to understand the needs of the species and identify the priority

areas for reservation. There is little to no contention over which areas require protection.

This proposal calls on Government to finally take action to meet the needs of the species

through the creation of dedicated, formal reserves on identified areas of public land.

11

Wilderness Society (2016) Submission on the Recovery Plan for the Giant Freshwater Crayfish.

https://www.wilderness.org.au/sites/default/files/PDFS/giantfreshwatercrayfishrecoveryplansubmission.pdf 12

Davies PE, Cook LSJ, Mallick SA and Munks SA (2016). Relating upstream forest management to stream ecosystem condition in middle

catchment reaches in Tasmania. Forest Ecology and Management 362, 142-155.