Crocodile farming

This Code of practice on the humane treatment of wild and farmed Australian crocodiles has been prepared for use by people responsible for the welfare and husbandry of wild and farmed estuarine saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) and freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni), that are maintained in captivity for closed-cycle captive breeding and the production of products such as meat, leather and taxidermied whole or part specimens. It is illegal to capture or farm wild crocodiles in Queensland unless a wildlife licence has been granted under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Any person or organisation proposing to farm crocodiles must be prepared to undertake considerable research into various aspects of crocodile husbandry and farming. The department will only consider fully documented and soundly based proposals for crocodile farming.

In addition to the Code of practice, a Crocodile commercial activity compliance plan (PDF, 81.0KB) has been developed, which outlines the department's approach to compliance and supports the delivery of departmental obligations under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the Wildlife Trade Management Plan - Queensland Crocodile Farming (2018-2022).