Del
Thanks for keeping us updated on this. As a Queenslander, I was ashamed of
the original (lack of) penalty. These penalties are still poor for so many
birds, but at least it may get some message across.
Perhaps our courts and politicians may also get the message that the
environment matters.
Who am I trying to kid??? As long as Beattie is there, DEVELOPMENT is
king at any cost!
Robyn
_____
From:
On Behalf Of Del Richards
Sent: Wednesday, 10 November 2004 5:19 PM
To: birding-aus
Subject: Barramundi farm employees fined $16,000 each!
In the continuing saga of the shooting of 2,000 birds on a Cowley Beach
barramundi farm, two men were fined a total of more than $32,000 on November
6th. The two men appeared in the Innisfail Magistrate's Court on charges
under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 for taking protected animals without
authority.
In October the same company and it's director were ordered to pay
$285,000 in fines and research costs to improve bird management systems on
the farm.
A fellow employee had been tried in Cairns Magistrate's Court on July
16th only to be given a one months suspended sentence. I reported this on
Birding-aus a week later and many subscribers responded individually and/or
representing Birds Australia in writing to Queensland Government Ministers
and the State Premier. It appears that this time pressure was indeed brought
to bear on the judiciary from above. The response of birders cannot be
gauged however the outcome has been pleasing.
This case will require care to be taken in the entire aquaculture
industry with regard to birdlife. Locally many barramundi farms recognise
that raptors in particular perform a service for them in scavenging the odd
fish that floats to the surface`which in turn helps to keep their ponds
clean.
It's possible that others are yet to appear in court relating to the
same incident. I'll keep subscribers posted.
Del. Richards, Fine Feather Tours, Mossman, NQ.
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