The annual waterbird counts that provide critical data for determining Victoria’s game duck numbers and seasonal settings are taking place this month. Under the Interim Adaptive Harvest Model, Victoria’s game duck hunting seasons are determined using a range of data sets to ensure that duck hunting remains sustainable.
The annual Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey
The Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey (EAWS) is one of the largest wildlife surveys in Australia, surveying major wetland sites in the Murray-Darling Basin, providing invaluable information on the ecosystem health of wetlands and rivers. 2022 will mark the 40th year the survey has run. This long-term data provides the essential baseline information with which to assess changes and impacts on the environment, particularly wetlands and rivers. It also provides the only long-term objective data on waterbird populations in Australia. This has proved particularly relevant in understanding the dynamics of environmental water needs for biodiversity purposes especially as they relate to waterbirds and wetlands. Changes in waterbird numbers provide a tangible way of indicating and measuring changes in the ecological health of river and wetland systems.
The surveys began in 1983, when the eastern states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia), the Commonwealth government and the CSIRO began an ambitious program to monitor waterbirds across one-third of the continent, from the east coast to the Northern Territory border and from Proserpine to south of Melbourne. From 1987 to 2004, the survey project was run by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Since 2005 the project has been run by The University of New South Wales, based on its recognised long-term expertise in this field.
Detailed data and expert analysis produced from the aerial survey project have provided the impetus for major improvements to the on-ground management of waterbirds, rivers and wetlands. The ongoing and up-to-date information provided as a result of the surveys has been vital in the identification of the national importance of inland wetlands, protection of the Paroo River and Cooper Creek and major changes or contributions to water management policies for the Macquarie Marshes, Menindee Lakes, Lowbidgee floodplain wetlands.
EAAWS, on its own, was not considered by SSAA Victoria as a suitable tool for determining duck season arrangements. However, the Association can see clear benefits in its inclusion in the more comprehensive modelling now occurring.
Victorian Aerial Duck Survey
The Game Management Authority (GMA) is conducting the annual helicopter survey across Victoria to monitor the abundance of game duck populations, and to help improve knowledge of waterfowl ecology.
The aerial survey will be conducted by experienced wildlife biologists recording the presence, species and number of game ducks on waterbodies across Victoria.
Satellite imaging will then be used to determine how much water is in the landscape, which will inform an estimate of the total abundance of each game duck species in the state.
GMA Research Principal Jason Flesch said this is the largest and most comprehensive survey of game ducks undertaken in Victoria.
“This is the third year the monitoring program has been conducted which provides critical data on the abundance of game ducks in Victoria,” Dr Flesch said.
“This year the survey will be expanded to cover more wetlands, sewerage ponds, farm dams, irrigation channels, creeks and rivers. In total, 800 waterbodies will be surveyed by air and another 66 by ground crews”
“Results from this research give a better understanding of game duck populations and will be used in the future to inform adaptive harvest management.”
The 2022 survey is scheduled to take place from Tuesday 11 October – 28 October 2022, subject to weather conditions or other delays and will cover much of the state where game ducks are found.
SSAA welcomes the investment in the counts as they help to provide confidence in the season-setting arrangements on the pathway to a mature adaptive harvest model.
A report containing the findings of the survey will be available on the GMA website in 2023.
Victorian Duck Season 2023
Victoria’s duck season for 2023 is regulated to commence on Saturday 18 March. In recent years, the Victorian government has chosen to open duck season on Wednesday rather than a Saturday. This year, SSAA Victoria successfully advocated for the season to commence on the Wednesday before the scheduled opening. It is reasonable for Victorian hunters to expect that the 2023 season will open on Wednesday 15 March 2023 and close on Monday 12 June 2023.
Interim Adaptive Harvest Model
Specific seasonal arrangements for duck hunting in Victoria are set using the Interim Adaptive Harvest Model (IAHM). The IAHM and a move to a mature Adaptive Harvest Model promise to deliver stable, full-length seasons, with a variable bag limit based on seasonal conditions. SSAA Victoria understands that the IAHM report will be delivered to government late this year, with an announcement about the bag limit for the 2023 season not expected until mid to late January.
In preparation for the 2022 season, the IAHM report and recommendations were published on 24 December 2021. A decision was not announced until 26 February 2022. That was over two months after publication and just eighteen days before the season commenced. By any reasonable standard, that is unacceptable.
There is no good reason why the government cannot announce the bag limit more or less immediately upon receipt of the IAHM report, but, in reality, that’s not going to happen for 2023. If an announcement is not made by mid-January at the latest, hunters would be justified to conclude that politics, rather than science, is causing the delay.
SSAA Victoria remains actively committed to helping to refine the model.
State Election work
With the Victorian State Election just fifty days away, SSAA Victoria and our colleagues have been actively seeking commitments to both protect and grow duck hunting. The long-term viability of duck hunting is a priority issue for Victoria’s leading shooting and hunting groups and this is reflected in our ongoing discussions with both the Government and the Opposition.
SSAA Victoria’s challenge to the vulnerable species listing progressing for Hardhead Duck
In May, we reported on SSAA Victoria’s efforts to challenge the Hardhead Duck (Aythya australis) listing as “Vulnerable” on Victoria’s threatened species list. The Association took this action because the evidence does not support these valued game birds being on that list.
The nomination was considered further at the most recent Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting on 19 August 2022. The nomination is being assessed and will be considered further by the SAC at their next full meeting. This is a slow process.
SSAA Victoria will keep members informed as this progresses.
