Declaration of an Approved Wildlife Trade Operation – Paul Hailes Queen Ants Trading as ANTSHOPAUS PTY LTD

Overview

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 was enacted to provide for the protection of the environment, particularly with respect to matters of national environmental significance. The Act addresses the problem of unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade by regulating the commercial trade of native wildlife and ensuring it is conducted in a manner that does not threaten the survival of species. The Act is overseen by the Australian Government, with the Minister for the Environment and Water being the enacting body responsible for its administration. This legislative framework aims to balance the need for sustainable economic activities with the imperative of conserving biodiversity. In the context of wildlife trade, the policy objective is to ensure that such activities are managed in a way that does not compromise the ecological balance and the survival of species involved.

Scope and Application

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 applies to this declaration concerning an approved wildlife trade operation for Paul Hailes Queen Ants trading as ANTSHOPAUS PTY LTD. The act applies to the specific conduct of harvesting and exporting live, recently mated queen ants from Australian native taxa and the geographic scope is limited to the Australian Capital Territory. The declaration imposes conditions such as adherence to the submitted proposal, annual harvest quotas for specified ant taxa, and restrictions on the methods used for harvesting to prevent damage to existing ant nests or colonies. This approval is valid until 30 September 2025, and the company must submit annual reports detailing the number of ants harvested, among other information, to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Additionally, the operation must comply with the broader provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and any subordinate legislation that may further define or restrict the operation's activities.

Key Provisions

This declaration, issued under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), outlines specific conditions for Paul Hailes Queen Ants trading as ANTSHOPAUS PTY LTD to harvest and export live, recently mated queen ants from certain Australian native taxa. The Principal Director of the Wildlife Trade Office, acting on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Water, has determined that this operation qualifies as a small-scale activity, in accordance with regulation 9A.20(2) of the EPBC Act (subsection 303FN(10)(b)). As such, the company is recognised as an approved wildlife trade operation under subsection 303FN(2). Under this declaration, the operation must adhere to the conditions outlined in section 303FT. It must follow the proposal submitted to the department on 18 May 2022, as revised on 12 July 2022. The annual harvest for export is restricted to specific native ant taxa, with maximum quantities set for each genus. For instance, only 50 Amblyopone spp., 300 Aphaenogaster spp., 1000 Camponotus spp., 1000 Iridomyrmex spp., and 1000 Myrmecia spp. can be harvested annually. Any additional taxa can be exported only after approval from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Furthermore, harvesting is only permitted within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and must not involve any excavation or damage to existing ant nests or colonies. The operation must comply with additional requirements set forth in the declaration. Annual reports must be submitted to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water by 15 September each year. These reports must detail the total number of ants harvested from each genus, harvesting dates and locations, and mortality rates. The declaration remains in effect until 30 September 2025, unless otherwise modified. In the event that a party feels their interests are affected by this declaration, they may lodge a written application to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water within 28 days for reasons for the decision. An independent review of the decision can be sought through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) 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. The application fee for the AAT is currently $1,826, although a reduced fee may be applicable due to financial hardship. Further information regarding these processes can be found on the AAT's website and by contacting the Director, Wildlife Trade Assessments Section at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.