Identifying and listing threatened species
The NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994 establishes provisions for the identification, conservation and recovery of threatened fish, aquatic invertebrates and marine vegetation. The Act also covers the identification and management of key threatening processes which affect threatened species or could cause other species to become threatened.
Threatened species, populations and ecological communities are divided into several categories:
- Species presumed extinct
- Critically endangered species
- Endangered species
- Vulnerable species
- Endangered populations
- Critically endangered ecological communties
- Endangered ecological communities
- Vulnerable ecological communities
There is also a category for key threatening processes - activities that harm threatened species or could cause other species to become threatened.
How are species listed?
Threatened species are listed on the recommendation of an independent Fisheries Scientific Committee, consisting of seven scientists with expertise in the fields of fish, aquatic invertebrates, marine biology, population dynamics, aquatic ecology and genetics of small populations. Anyone can make a nomination to add, remove or change a listing. The Fisheries Scientific Committee will assess the nomination in accordance with listing criteria prescribed in the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2002 and the available scientific information. The Fisheries Scientific Committee then determines whether to amend the lists.
How to make a nomination
Nominations to add, remove or change a threatened species listing are made by completing and submitting a nomination form. The form must be signed and sent to the address on the bottom of the form.
To find out more information on nominating threatened species, see Nomination Process on the FSC webpage.
