Annual Report on the aerial use of 1080 - Environmental Protection ...

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITYANNUAL REPORT ONTHE AERIAL USE OF 1080For the year ended 31 December, 2007ISSN 1174-9873

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080TABLE OF CONTENTSSummary 3Background 3The 1080 Reassessment Decision 4Introduction 5Information from Post-Operational <strong>Report</strong>s 5Complaints, Incidents and other Activities 5Best Practice Guidance 7Communication and Consultation 7Management of Aerial1080 Operations 7Research 82

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080SUMMARYThis is the first <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> on the Aerial Use of 1080, covering activities to 31 December, 2007. It reports onthe progress of the 1080 watch list, research developments and best practice guidance.The requirement for aerial 1080 operators to report on operations did not come into effect until 1 January 2008.This means there were no reports received in the period of this annual report.However, post-operational reports are being progressively posted on the ERMA New Zealand website,www.ermanz.govt.nz/1080/, as they come to hand.The implementation of the watch list is well underway and ERMA New Zealand staff are collecting information on1080 operations – including complaints, incidents and other activities associated with the use of 1080 in NewZealand. This information is being combined with post-operational reports submitted by operators, and is also beingposted on the website.It is encouraging to note that several of the research recommendations from the Authority’s August 2007 Decisionon 1080 (see Box 1) are already being implemented. These include three completed projects looking at alternativesto 1080 and a further six ongoing projects.There have also been more than 10 research projects examining ways of improving the use of 1080.ERMA New Zealand has also developed a Communications Guideline for Aerial 1080 Operations, which is beingpublished and distributed at the same time as this report.BACKGROUNDThe Environmental Risk Management Authority completed a reassessment of 1080 for use in pest control inAugust 2007. After careful consideration, it concluded that the benefits of using 1080 outweighed the adverseeffects, and it released its decision to allow the continued use of 1080, with additional controls. It also maderecommendations for the development of “best practice” guidelines, and for further research.In reaching its decision, the Authority was mindful that the use of 1080 was a polarising issue about whichmany New Zealanders had deeply felt concerns. It recognised the importance of engagement through bettercommunication and consultation with the public, local communities, Māori and special interest groups; and madea commitment to a new management regime for 1080 operations to address an urgent need for furtherimprovements in the way this vertebrate toxic agent is used.Progress is detailed in this annual report.3

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080BOX 1: THE 1080 REASSESSMENT DECISIONIn February 2002, the Department of Conservation (DoC) and the Animal Health Board (AHB) made anapplication to the Authority for a decision on whether there were grounds for a reassessment of 1080 and thesubstances containing it. The Authority decided in March 2002 that there were grounds for a reassessment,namely:• the large increase in the amount of 1080 being used and planned for use;• new information relating to the effects of 1080 since it was first registered in 1964; and• considerable public concern about the use of 1080.In October 2006, DoC and the AHB submitted a joint application for the reassessment of 1080.The public was invited to make submissions on the application and a number of public hearings were heldthroughout the country. An evaluation of the submissions and the scientific evidence provided by bothapplicants and submitters was prepared by ERMA New Zealand staff. The Authority considered the report andthe evidence presented at the hearings and issued its decision on the reassessment (the 1080 Decision).The Authority decided to allow the continued use of 1080 for ground and aerial operations. The controls thatpreviously existed were strengthened and new controls on aerial application were added because of the higherlevels of risk involved.The additional controls are part of a tighter management regime imposed by the Authority for aerial drops of1080. The new regime consists of four main elements:1.2.3.4.A watch list requiring reports on aerial 1080 operations (to include information on consultation, incidents,and the results of any post-operational monitoring) to be provided to the Authority to enable activemonitoring of all 1080 aerial operations.Strengthened controls to further mitigate the risks involved in 1080 aerial drops.Application of best practice in relation to pre-operation planning, consultation and notification as well asthe management of 1080 aerial operations.Further research into alternatives to 1080 for pest control and, where there remains a lack of knowledgeand a degree of public concern, about the effects of 1080.Additional information about the Authority’s decision can be found in The Reassessment of 1080: An InformalGuide to the August 2007 Decision of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, available on our website,http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/news-events/1080/ERMA%201080%20Reassessment%20FINAL.pdf.4

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080INTRODUCTIONThis report includes information on the following:• reports of incidents from the public and through media monitoring;• implementation of the Authority’s research recommendations; and• implementation of the Authority’s best practice recommendations.There were no post-operational reports required for this reporting period. However, information gathered onoperations will be shared with the public via the ERMA New Zealand 1080 webpage, www.ermanz.govt.nz/1080/and will be used to inform any future reassessment of 1080 by the Authority.Information from post-operational reportsThe requirements for post-operational reporting are set out in the Decision. ERMA New Zealand has been workingwith industry on a standardised format for reporting to ensure that the information required is submitted.This requires 1080 operational managers to submit the following:• information about the management of the operation, including why the operation happened, who paid for theoperation and who carried out the operation;• the location and size of the operation;• information about statutory authorisation of the operation;• a timeline overview of who was consulted and how they were consulted during the pre-operational consultation,and the outcomes of that consultation;• an overview of any incidents and complaints related to the operation and the actions that resulted from thoseincidents and complaints;• information about how the areas were treated, when they were treated and with what they were treated;• an assessment of the outcomes of the operation;• a map of the operational area;• copies of water sampling reports, if these were required for the operation; and• copies of any applicable species monitoring report(s).Post-operational reports received after this reporting period will be posted on the ERMA New Zealand website,at www.ermanz.govt.nz/1080/ as they come to hand.Complaints, incidents and other activitiesERMA New Zealand is advised of complaints, incidents and activities associated with 1080 use in three ways:• The public registering their concerns. A member of the public contacts ERMA New Zealand to express concernsabout particular 1080 operations or related practices.• Incident reporting. An operator or agency contacts ERMA New Zealand to express concerns about particular1080 operations or related practices.• Media monitoring. We learn through our media monitoring service of incidents or concerns reported in the media.ERMA New Zealand assesses this information to determine the required response. The matter may be passed on toan enforcement agency to be investigated. When a person asks for a complaint to be noted (rather than for actionto be taken) this information is filed against the operation in question for future reference.Incidents related to specific operations will be tracked and are expected to be reported in post-operational reports.A summary will be included in each year’s annual report, starting in 2010.5

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080Information on general incidents related to 1080 use or those that are for specific operations that occurred before 1January 2008 (before the timeframe for inclusion in post-operational reports) is provided in Table 1 below.Table 1.DATEREGION/COMPLAINT TYPE/ACTIONOUTCOMEOPERATIONDESCRIPTIONNovember2007TurangiVehicle accident: Truckcontaining a container of1080 lost its load on apublic highway as a resultof a traffic accident.Investigated by PoliceCommercial VehicleInvestigation Unit.Container recoveredundamaged. Driver found tobe at fault; prosecuted fortraffic offences and fined.November2007RotoariaOperationStock losses: Horsedeaths as a result of 1080application in paddock.Independentinvestigationcommissioned byEnvironment Waikato.Horse deaths attributedto miscommunicationby several parties,including operator.Operator cautioned oncommunication expectationsfor future operations.November2007RotoariaOperationStock losses: Sheepdeaths.Independentinvestigationcommissioned byEnvironment Waikato.Sheep deaths attributed to1080 poisoning as a resultof sabotage by unknownthird party. Referred topolice.November2007RotoariaOperationAlleged drinking watercontamination: 1080allegedly added to drinkingwater.Independentinvestigationcommissioned byEnvironment Waikato.Determined to beunfounded; testing found nocontamination.6

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCEIn its decision on 1080, the Authority acknowledged a need for further improvement in the way 1080 is used, andrecommended that management practices around aerial drops of 1080 be standardised around best practice toensure consistency.Areas identified for the development of best practice guidance included:1. Communication and consultation.2. Management of aerial 1080 operations.In 2008, ERMA New Zealand met with industry representatives to discuss the development and implementationof best practice guidelines. These guidelines will help operators to meet or exceed all mandatory controls. Theguidelines will also help communities and concerned parties identify whether an operator’s practices meet theexpected standards.Communication and consultationERMA New Zealand has taken the lead in developing standards for communication using the Department ofConservation’s (DoC) Standard Operating Procedures for Consultation and Notification as its guide.Modifications were made to reflect feedback from the consultation process and the resulting guideline has beenpublished. http://ermanz.govt.nz/resources/publications/1080/commsguideline.pdfManagement of aerial 1080 operationsGuidance on the management of aerial 1080 operations will include information on signage, bait preparation anddistribution, as well as other parts of the life-cycle of an aerial 1080 operation.Current guidance on the management of 1080 operations is found in a diverse range of documents (StandardOperating Procedures (SOPs), guides and codes), which vary in quality and relevance to current legislation andpractices.The National Possum Control Agencies (NPCA) are leading a project where existing industry SOPs and guidelinesare being reviewed in order to develop industry-wide guidelines for the management of 1080 operations. Thisproject is in an early stage and should progress in 2009.7

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080RESEARCHDuring the reassessment, ERMA New Zealand identified several areas that would benefit from additional research. Itrecommended that the agencies involved in pest control undertake further research in the following areas:• alternatives to 1080 for pest control;• improvements to the use of 1080;• stability of 1080 in stored environmental samples;• OECD Test 309: Water Biodegradation;• OECD Test 307: Aerobic and Anaerobic Transformation in Soil; and• the effects of 1080 on Rongoa Māori.In September 2007, the Authority wrote to the then Acting Environment Minister stressing the importance of morefocussed and better-funded research into the adverse effects and alternative methods of pest control. It soughtGovernment support for the development of a research programme to ensure continued public confidence in the useof 1080. This was met with a positive response from the Government.The research summarised in this section occurred or concluded after the research provided in 2007 as part of the1080 reassessment and represents the latest information at the time of publication.Research into alternatives to 1080 is summarised in Table 2; into improvements to the use of 1080 in Table 3; andon the effects of 1080 on Rongoa Māori in Table 4.Research into the stability of 1080 in stored environmental samples has been questioned by the Animal HealthBoard (AHB) and Department of Conservation (DoC), as the results would not be easily applicable to other studieswhere stored samples are analysed for 1080. Instead, Landcare Research has established quality assurancemeasures to reduce the risk of storage having an effect on samples.A research project on 1080 transformation in soil (OECD Test 307) has been commissioned by the AHB and DoC.The AHB proposes to undertake modelling to determine the levels of 1080 that may get into drinking watersupplies from an aerial drop, and to determine if the Tolerable Daily Intake could be exceeded and (if so) for howlong. A research proposal is currently being assessed for this project. The AHB considers that to assess risk,this research is more relevant than studies on water biodegradation, as the effects of dilution far outweigh anybiodegradation effects.8

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080Table 2. Research into alternatives to the use of 1080 for pest controlORGANISATION(S) RESEARCH DESCRIPTION STATUS OUTCOMESAHB/FRSTExtending the use ofcyanideResearch towardsthe development ofencapsulated cyanidebaits for control ofwallabies, ferrets andferal pigs.Completed.Trials have shownthe toxin to beeffective againstthe target pestswhilst beinghumane.This project isintended to progresstowards field trials.AHBDevelopment of zincphosphide paste baitfor possumsResearch towardsthe development of amicroencapsulated zincphosphide bait.Completed.Zinc phosphideis seen asa potentialalternative for1080 in somesituations as therisks to dogsof secondarypoisoning areextremely low.Applications havebeen filed forapproval for the useof zinc phosphidewith ERMA NewZealand and the NewZealand Food SafetyAuthority.DoCDevelopment of anew toxin, paraaminopropiophenone(PAPP)Research towards thedevelopment and testingof PAPP as an alternativeto 1080 for control offeral cats and stoats.Completed.Dossiers on PAPPhave been preparedfor assessmentby ERMA NewZealand and the NewZealand Food SafetyAuthority.AHBCholecalciferol andsynergistsResearch intocholecalciferol showedthat the addition ofa synergist couldsignificantly enhancethe effectiveness of thistoxin.Ongoing.Research willcontinue into2008/09.N/AAHB New “C+C” bait A new toxin that has lowprimary and secondarypoisoning risks is beingdeveloped.Ongoing.Research intochemistry andrisk to birds willcontinue into2008/09.N/A9

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080ORGANISATION(S) RESEARCH DESCRIPTION STATUS OUTCOMESAHBInvestigation offeasibility of cyanideand cholecalciferolas an alternative toaerial 1080The regulatory hurdlesto aerial application ofcyanide or cholecalciferolwere assessed.Field trials (usingnon-toxic baits) wereundertaken in 2007/08to determine the optimalbait size/type andsowing pattern/rate forcholecalciferol baits.Ongoing.This study indicatedthat the successfulregistration ofcyanide for aerialuse would beunlikely. However,aerial application ofcholecalciferol maybe worth considering.DoC Cholecalciferol Trials have been carriedout with manufacturersusing cholecalciferol onrodents to extend the useof Feracol to possumsand rats.Ongoing.N/AAHB/FRSTNew possum-specifictoxinsResearch into thedevelopment of a“possum-specifictoxin” has identifieda mechanism in thepossum gut responsiblefor switching on andoff secretion that isunique. A compoundthat could activatethis mechanism couldpotentially result in a baitthat could specificallytarget possums withoutaffecting non-targetspecies.Ongoing.The focus ofresearch in the2007/08 yearwas on screeningcompounds that maybe able to activatethis mechanism.DoCSelf re-settingpossum kill trapDoC is funding thedevelopment of a self resettingpossum kill trap.Ongoing.N/A10

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080Table 3. Research into improvements to the use of 1080ORGANISATION RESEARCH DESCRIPTION STATUS OUTCOMESAHBLocaleliminationprojectResearch into “elimination”of possums from an areathrough: maximising initial(aerial) control; mappingsurvivors and eliminatingthem; protecting theperimeters of the controlarea from reinvasion.Ongoing. Inthe 2007/08year periodthe researchfocussed on howto achieve goodinitial control. Itinvestigated prefeeding,sowingrate and sowingpattern as themain factors.Conclusions from theresearch included thatpre-feeding is important,especially in areas whererats may compete for baitsand/or forested areas. Thisis due to the need to “teach”possums to come to theground to search for food.By using “trickle sowing”,baits may be applied atlower sowing rates.AHBMolesworthprojectResearch in a high countryenvironment to assessif the amount of 1080applied could be loweredby specifically targeting“possum habitat”.Completed.The outcome was a modelthat could be used to mapwhere to target possumcontrol, based on habitattype and altitude. Thisapproach may reduce thesize of treatment areas inthe high country by as muchas 80%. Further operationaltrials will be required tovalidate the findings.Findings included: thatgenerally the higher inaltitude the less possumsthere are; and that particularhabitat types were morelikely to harbour possumsthan others.DoCOperationArkDoC has been investigatinghow to use 1080 to achievegreatest biodiversity benefit.This includes research todetermine how to use 1080effectively to control ratsin a beech mast year anddetermining whether stoattrapping is necessary everyyear to protect threatenedbird species.Ongoing.N/A11

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080ORGANISATION RESEARCH DESCRIPTION STATUS OUTCOMESDoCOptimising1080A DoC research projectlooking at the use of aerial1080 operations to controlboth possums and rats. Thisinvolves field trials to assessthe role of pre-feedingin reducing the amountof 1080 applied whilstmaintaining a high kill rateof target pests.Ongoing.N/ADoC/AHBKea by-killstudyResearch by DoC and AHBinto the non-target effectsof 1080 on kea.Ongoing.An initial study was carriedout following the fate ofkea with radio transmitters.Initial results showed thatall of the monitored keasurvived two operations. Inthe Franz Joseph Glacieroperation, six kea (ofseventeen monitored) werepoisoned. A subsequentstudy is planned to establishthe level of risk to NewZealand kea populationfrom 1080 operations andoptions for risk mitigation.This monitoring is part ofa long-term study so anysubstantive update will notbe available for severalyears.DoCOptimisingpossumcontrolResearch into the effectsof using different rules forinitiating possum control onkamahi and other canopypopulations including cost/benefit analyses.Ongoing.DoC is using results ofthe research as they cometo hand to develop pestmanagement modelsfor managers to use todetermine the consequencesof varying possum controlintervals.12

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080ORGANISATION RESEARCH DESCRIPTION STATUS OUTCOMESFRSTMulti-speciescontrol fromaerial 1080operationsInvestigation into thesequence of events ofmulti-species pest controlat one site. This researchprogramme is designedto deliver better solutionsfor reducing the impactsof small mammal pests(possums, rats, mice andstoats) on the New Zealandmainland. The overall aimsof the three projects are:to predict what species ofpests should be controlledand when; to predicthow control can be mostefficiently and effectivelytargeted in time and space;and to develop new ways ofusing current tools to delivercontrol most cheaply andreliably.Ongoing.N/ADoCMetaanalysisoftree survivalin relationto possumcontrolMonitoring of the canopycondition of trees at siteswhere possum controloccurs at five- to seven-yearintervals is being comparedwith the canopy conditionof trees at sites where nopossum control is done. Theobjective is to determine ifinfrequent possum controlimproves the resilience offorests. Analysis of availabledata will help estimate thesize of the effects thatpossums have on canopycondition.Ongoing.N/A13

ERMA NEW ZEALAND annual report on the aerial use of 1080Table 4. Research on the effects of 1080 on Rongoa MāoriORGANISATION RESEARCH DESCRIPTION STATUS OUTCOMESAHBStudies onA study to look at 1080Ongoing.N/Awatercress anduptake in watercresspuhaand puha.AHBDevelopment ofIn the 2006/07 year,Completed.Communication of the resultsa database onthe AHB contractedof the reviewed information andthe impacts ofresearchers to developprovision of education on how to1080 on taongaa database on theaccess and use the database.speciesimpacts of 1080 tonative species. Theresearchers reviewedrelevant availablepublications/studiesin collaboration withMāori to ensure thatthey were satisfied withthe way the researchwas undertaken beforeadding them to thedatabase.This was done through anumber of hui held throughoutthe country. This project wascontinued in the 2007/08 year,with the scope of the databasebeing expanded and newavenues of communication beingpursued.The database can be foundat: http://campus.lincoln.ac.nz/1080.14

20 Customhouse QuayPO Box 131WellingtonNew ZealandPhone: + 64 4 916 2426Fax: + 64 4 914 0433www.ermanz.govt.nzISSN 1174-9687 (Print)ISSN 1174-9873 (Online)ER-OP-12-01 03/09March 2009