COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE MANAGEMENT PLAN – SALTWATER CROCODILE (CROCODYLUS POROSUS) IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA 2026 - 2030
I, Sam Hush, Branch Head, Wildlife Trade and Regulatory Capability Branch, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water declare under subsection 303FO(2) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), that the Wildlife Trade Management Plan – Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia 2026 – 2030, prepared by the Northern Territory Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, is an approved Wildlife Trade Management Plan for the purposes of section 303FO of the EPBC Act.
This declaration has effect subject to the following conditions applied under section 303FT:
- Commercial farming of crocodiles in the Northern Territory for export must be conducted in accordance with the Wildlife Trade Management Plan – Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia 2026 – 2030 (the Plan).
- A maximum of 90,000 viable Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) eggs can be harvested from the wild in the Northern Territory per year for the purposes of commercial export.
- A maximum of 1,200 Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) larger that 60cm in length can be harvested from the wild in the Northern Territory per year for the purpose of commercial export.
- The Northern Territory Department of Lands, Planning and Environment must submit an annual report to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water by 30 June each year (for the previous calendar year). The annual report must include details of:
- Progress against performance indicators outlined in Table 1: Management Actions to be undertaken under the WTMP and their relevant Timeline and Performance indicators of the Wildlife Trade Management Plan for Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory of Australia 2026 – 2030.
- Harvest statistics including:
- Number of Saltwater Crocodile eggs taken from the wild.
- Number of viable Saltwater Crocodile eggs taken from the wild.
- Number of problem Saltwater Crocodiles taken from the wild.
- Number of Saltwater Crocodiles taken from the wild for commercial purposes.
- Number of permits issued for commercial wild harvest and problem crocodile removal.
- Number of Saltwater Crocodile eggs and live animals exported from, and imported into the Northern Territory.
- Number of Saltwater Crocodiles and Saltwater Crocodile eggs held by each crocodile farm.
- Number of Saltwater Crocodile eggs hatched by each crocodile farm.
- Number of natural and euthanasia mortalities of Saltwater Crocodiles and Saltwater Crocodile eggs at each crocodile farm.
- Industry compliance indicators.
- This declaration is valid for five years from the day after its registration on the Federal Register of Legislation (FRL).
Dated this 1st day December 2025
Sam Hush
………….…….……………………….........
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water
Under section 266 of the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (ART Act), decision-makers must give notice of a decision and review rights to any person affected by the decision (section 266 of the ART Act). In giving the notice, decision-makers must have regard to the Administrative Review Tribunal Rules 2024 (section 267 of the ART Act).
A person whose interests are affected by this decision may, within 28 days, apply in writing to the Department of the Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, for the statement of reasons for the decision (section 268 of the ART Act).
If they are not satisfied with the decision, or the statement of reasons, an application for independent merits review of the decision (under section 303GJ(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) may be made to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), on payment of the relevant fee (currently $1,121 or reduced fee where applicable due to financial hardship) by the applicant.
This can take place either within 28 days of receipt of the reasons for the decision, or within 28 days of this declaration, if reasons for the decision are not sought. Applications should be made directly to the ART. Please visit the ART’s website at https://www.art.gov.au/ for further information. You can provide feedback or make a complaint about the general services ART staff provide relating to your case through the enquiry form provided on the ART website linked above.
You may make an application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) to access documents relevant to this decision. For further information, please visit https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/reporting/freedom-of-information.
Further enquiries should be directed to: Director of Wildlife Trade Assessments, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Telephone: (Australia) 1800 075 065 or (international) +61 5156 5063 Email: wta@dcceew.gov.au.