THE removal of crocodiles has been caught up in a process of "bureaucratic red tape", Hinchinbrook MP Andrew Cripps has said.

He says the reptiles should be removed by croc farmers, not the Environmental Protection Agency.

Under the new Queensland Crocodile Management Plan, it is illegal to approach a crocodile within 10m without a reasonable excuse.

All crocodiles more than 2m long, not just troublesome ones, will be automatically removed from urban areas under a new management regime starting today.

Mr Cripps said the 2m rule was arbitrary.

"There should not be a set of criteria that the crocodile has to meet before it is removed," Mr Cripps said.

"It (the removal) should just happen and that would go a long way to alleviate any public concern."

Mr Cripps said crocodiles that were less than 2m in length, but were near boat ramps and stinger nets still posed dangerous threats to children and especially tourists who were not familiar with the Far North's environment.

But Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara said crocodiles smaller than 2m would have to be assessed as "problems" before they were removed.

Previously, all crocs had to be deemed a safety risk based on their behaviour, location and the area's human use before they could be touched.

"This plan adopts a common sense approach to crocodile management," Mr McNamara said.

He said public safety was the No. 1 croc-managing priority, but the animals were also an important part of the ecosystem.

"We need to actively conserve our estuarine crocodiles to ensure their long-term survival."

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