The Government recently established the Tasmanian Penguin Advisory Group (TPAG). The goup's aim is to enhance the understanding of little penguins, and to improve their conservation and protection across the State.
TPAG includes representatives from:
- BirdLife Tasmania
- CSIRO
- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE)
- the Derwent Estuary Program
- Local Government Association Tasmania (LGAT)
- University of Tasmania
- a community-based penguin expert
TPAG provides us with expert advice on matters regarding Little Penguin conservation and management.
One of the group’s first priorities was to support and guide the Government-funded Little Penguin Conservation Project, undertaken by Cradle Coast Authority NRM. The project aimed to develop the
Little Penguin Survey and Monitoring Toolkit, with TPAG endorsing the toolkit in June 2020.
The toolkit provides training and survey methodology for community groups and land managers to follow that will help facilitate a state-wide assessment of colony status and threats, and assist in prioritising areas of key concern for targeted management and threat mitigation.
The group is currently working on defining research priorities in Tasmania to ensure that research projects provide practical information to better inform Little Penguin management decisions.