South Australian Commercial Kangaroo Management Plan 2020-2024.

The South Australian Commercial Kangaroo Management Plan 2020–2024 provides a framework for the sustainable and humane management of kangaroo populations across the state. It was developed to meet both Commonwealth and State legislative requirements, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The Plan responds to ecological changes since European settlement, which have led to increased kangaroo populations due to altered land use, reduced predation, and increased water availability. These high populations can negatively impact land condition, agriculture, and biodiversity, especially during droughts. To address these issues, the plan expands the commercial harvest zone to cover most of South Australia, excluding metropolitan Adelaide and the Alinytjara Wiluṟara region. It introduces new harvest sub-regions and includes additional species such as the eastern grey kangaroo and tammar wallaby. The plan’s primary goal is to ensure ecologically sustainable kangaroo harvesting while maintaining animal welfare standards. It outlines seven strategic aims: ensuring humane treatment, promoting community engagement, mitigating land damage, monitoring populations and setting quotas, ensuring industry compliance, supporting adaptive management and research, and conducting regular reporting and review. The Plan also details threats to kangaroo populations, both biological and human-induced, and outlines mitigation strategies. It emphasizes that commercial harvesting is sustainable when properly regulated and monitored, and incorporates mechanisms to adjust quotas based on population trends and environmental conditions. The Plan is adaptive, allowing for changes based on new data and stakeholder input, and includes provisions for Aboriginal involvement and public transparency.