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Kangaroos
Kangaroo Industry Background
Kangaroo harvests
Kangaroos and wallabies make up the 60 known species of macropods in Australia, only 6 species are commercially harvested. Tasmania is the only state where wallabies are commercially harvested. Kangaroos and wallabies are not farmed; rather they are harvested from the wild in five states of Australia by licensed, trained hunters. The industry provides over 4000 jobs mostly in rural and remote areas.
Both the federal and state governments have a role in the conservation of kangaroos and wallabies. The Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and State conservation agencies monitor kangaroo populations and the sustainability of the harvesting process. A harvest quota has been established and is reviewed annually in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and varies depending on population sizes and long term climatic trends. This will ensure that kangaroos are managed in an ecologically sustainable way.
Kangaroo products and exports
Harvesting kangaroos for export first began in 1959 when they were sold to European countries. Kangaroo meat and by-products are now sold domestically and exported all over the world. Kangaroo meat is becoming increasingly popular, due to its unique flavour, low fat and high proportion of protein.
Of the kangaroo meat that is harvested 60% is used for pet supplies, mostly for the domestic market. The remainder is used for human consumption with around 80% exported. According to Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), in 2006/07 14,530 tonnes of kangaroo meat was exported to 27 countries, with the majority going to Russia (76%), South Africa (6%), France (5%) and Germany (4%). The total value of all kangaroo meat exports for 2006/07 was $27 million. Approximately 30% of skins are used domestically with the rest exported as hide, skin and leather worth around $22.16 million in 2004.
Relevant Acts and Codes
Commonwealth and State/Territory governments have developed the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies to regulate harvesting procedures. Sustainable management of the kangaroo industry is under strict environmental controls provided by the Federal EPBC Act, as well as various state management plans.
Kangaroo Levies
In October 2006 new levy amendments came into effect as agreed to by the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia (KIAA). The levies are for RIRDC kangaroo industry research programs and for the National Residue Survey (NRS) service (meat for human consumption only). The current rates are:
Process levy for animal consumption is 3 cents/head
Kangaroo process levy for human consumption is 7 cents/head
Other macropod (wallaby) levy for human consumption is 4 cents/head.