244Criteria—threatening processes

244 Criteria—threatening processes

244 Criteria—threatening processes

(1) For critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable ecological communities, there is, or there is observed, estimated, inferred or reasonably suspected to be, a historical, current or potential threatening process, or threatening processes affecting the ecological community.

(2) The Fisheries Scientific Committee must have regard to the following in determining the relevant extent of the effect of the threatening process or threatening processes—

(a) the number and nature of the threatening processes,

(b) the potential for synergistic effects between threatening processes,

(c) the extent of the threatening processes relative to the geographic distribution of the ecological community,

(d) the impact of the threatening processes on the diversity and quality of the ecological community’s habitat,

(e) the level of protection offered to the ecological community within existing reserve systems, other forms of refuge or by current management strategies.