INDIGENOUS officials have thrown their support behind croc hunters looking for a  
legal ticket to hunt rogue reptiles.

The Gupulul Marayuwu Aboriginal Corporation and crocodile hunting expert Mick Pitman plan to apply to the Federal Government for a 12-month trial ticket to hunt problem reptiles.

But the Northern Territory based corporation said it would need the Queensland Government to make croc hunting legal before it could operate in the Far North.

The corporation said it would set up a business to capture, kill, skin and stuff the salties.

A spokesman said the proposal would be a jobs generator for Far North Queenslanders as they would hire local rangers and fishermen to navigate the hunt.

Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Rodney Accoom welcomed the idea after claiming saltie sightings were spiking.

And Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council chief executive Kevin Wormald said the idea was promising as long as it generated employment and resources.

"If part of their proposal is to create indigenous employment, we would certainly be interested," he said.

At present, the Environmental Protection Agency and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services kill or sell problem crocs to farms that breed and sell the offspring’s skin to European buyers.

Melaleuca Crocodile Farm manager Peter Fisher said crocs were more profitable alive with female crocs laying an average of 50 eggs a year and crocodile-skin handbags starting around $30,000 in Europe.

Share this article