organisations and community Likelihood of threat occurring is defined as groups. follows: 4.4 Threat prioritisation Almost certain expected to occur – every year. Each of the threats outlined above has Likely expected to occur at least – been assessed using a risk matrix once every five years. approach. The risk assessment was applied to each recognised stock and was Possible might occur at some – used to evaluate the likelihood of a threat time. occurring and the consequences of that Unlikely such events are known – threat for the stock (see Appendix B for to have occurred on a worldwide individual stock risk assessments). The basis but only a few times. outcome of this process is summarised in Table 8. Unknown it is currently unknown – how often the incident will occur. Threat risk assessments were undertaken for each stock separately to account for Consequences of threats are defined as the differences in exposure to threats and follows: the ability to withstand impacts. stock’s Threats were considered in terms of the No long-term effect no long-term – life stage they affect and the duration of effect on individuals or stock. the threat. Threats were also considered Minor individuals are affected, – in the context of the current management but no effect at stock level. regimes in place. The impact of that threat has been assessed assuming that existing Moderate stock recovery stalls or – management measures continue to be reduces. applied appropriately. The threat is then Major stock declines. – considered, taking into account: Catastrophic stock at risk of – knowledge of effectiveness of the extinction. mitigation/management measure the coverage of the mitigation/management measure the scope of the mitigation/management measure. The risk matrix and ranking of threats was based on information in the peer reviewed literature, expert opinion and community consultation. Definitions used for the risk assessment are: Table 7. Risk assessment matrix framework Consequences
organisations and community groups. 4.4 Threat prioritisation Each of the threats outlined above has been assessed using a risk matrix approach. The risk assessment was applied to each recognised stock and was used to evaluate the likelihood of a threat occurring and the consequences of that threat for the stock (see Appendix B for individual stock risk assessments). The outcome of this process is summarised in Table 8. Threat risk assessments were undertaken for each stock separately to account for the differences in exposure to threats and the stock’s ability to withstand impacts. Threats were considered in terms of the life stage they affect and the duration of the threat. Threats were also considered in the context of the current management regimes in place. The impact of that threat has been assessed assuming that existing management measures continue to be applied appropriately. The threat is then considered, taking into account: knowledge of effectiveness of the mitigation/management measure the coverage of the mitigation/management measure the scope of the mitigation/management measure. The risk matrix and ranking of threats was based on information in the peer reviewed literature, expert opinion and community consultation. Definitions used for the risk assessment are: Likelihood of threat occurring is defined as follows: Almost certain – expected to occur every year. Likely – expected to occur at least once every five years. Possible – might occur at some time. Unlikely – such events are known to have occurred on a worldwide basis but only a few times. Unknown – it is currently unknown how often the incident will occur. Consequences of threats are defined as follows: No long-term effect – no long-term effect on individuals or stock. Minor – individuals are affected, but no effect at stock level. Moderate – stock recovery stalls or reduces. Major – stock declines. Catastrophic – stock at risk of extinction. Table 7. Risk assessment matrix framework Consequences