Does the crocodile conservation plan have restrictions on fishing, boating or swimming?
Under Queensland legislation, including the crocodile conservation plan, certain unsafe activities are prohibited in areas inhabited by estuarine crocodiles. These ‘restrictions’ are designed to stop people from putting themselves into potentially dangerous situations while still allowing them to enjoy recreational activities in a safe and sustainable manner. Under the conservation plan, a person must not bring a boat or vehicle within 10 metres of an estuarine crocodile in the wild unless they have a reasonable excuse. An example of a reasonable excuse would be when a person driving a boat is passing an estuarine crocodile in a river and the distance between the crocodile and each bank of the river is less than 10 metres. The Queensland Government has taken this position to ensure that the public stays a safe distance from crocodiles and, at the same time, ensure that crocodiles do not get used to being close to boats.
