Major decline in waterbird numbers across eastern Australia

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) and the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) have condemned the new Liberal Government’s decision to hold a 2015 duck shooting season. Premier Hodgman has ignored the latest science that shows a major decline in waterbird numbers throughout eastern Australia.

Campaign Director Chris Simcox today asked: “Why is Tasmania holding a recreational duck shooting season when Professor Richard Kingsford’s latest aerial survey shows waterbird numbers have declined by around sixty per cent? Wetlands across eastern Australia are either rapidly drying out or are already dry, and native waterbirds are in serious trouble. Professor Kingsford said the numbers of so-called ‘game species’ in many areas are far below long-term averages.

“Birds seeking refuge from the drought in northern states will become sitting ducks on wetlands in the south at the start of Tasmanian duck shooting season. AACT and the TCT condemn Premier Will Hodgman and his cabinet for continuing the former Gidding Government’s unnecessary cycle of cruelty to native waterbirds,” Mr Simcox said.

TCT Director Peter McGlone has recently visited wetlands on the east coast of Tasmania and reports that: “While the south east of Tasmania has had a wet summer the east coast, including the area around Moulting Lagoon, has had little rainfall and many smaller wetlands are dry or very low. Native duck populations on the east coast can also be expected to be low so the government should call off the recreational shooting season to give them a better chance of recovery.”

“It seem the job of looking after native waterbirds in Tasmania again falls to concerned members of AACT and the TCT. We will return to the wetlands on 7 March 2015, with our rescue teams and wildlife first aiders, to help Australian native waterbirds,” Mr Simcox concluded.