Growcom:
AU: Moving flying foxes not the answer
Chief Executive Officer Alex Livingstone said the findings gathered by tagging the animals showed that an integrated, systematic approach was needed to provide effective management of the animal, rather than just moving the problem around.
"There is a clear need for more research into the ecology of flying foxes in order to ensure the proper management of the animal, particularly now that it is a known carrier of viruses such as Hendra which could threaten human populations directly if the virus mutates.
"Moreover, in the past several years damage by flying foxes has been significant in stone fruit, lychee, longan, rambutan and table grapes crops, severely affecting the incomes of growers we represent," said Mr Livingstone.
"The fruit industry has repeatedly asked government for significant investment in addressing flying fox management, including funds for population monitoring and ongoing research into flying fox behaviour.
"We have also repeatedly sought research into alternative crop protection methods and financial incentives to maximise implementation of canopy netting where it is feasible.
"Other methods of management, such as dispersal using noise or lights, simply moves the problem to another area.
"That’s clearly not effective management and may be counter-productive from the perspective of disease management.
"Growcom and the fruit industry have demonstrated a serious commitment to seeking alternative, non-lethal means of managing flying foxes in fruit crops.
"We would like to see this matched by a serious commitment from state and federal governments into scientific research in managing the animal.
"If this can’t be taken seriously as a major agricultural problem, then it should be urgently considered under national health or workplace health and safety portfolios.”
For more information:
Alex Livingstone
Growcom
Tel: +61 07 3620 3844