Aussie man 'could sell NZ $1m possum fur' annually

An Australian entrepreneur who says he could sell A$1 million ($1.3 million) worth of possum fur a year to New Zealand has welcomed a federal government plan for the commercial harvest and export of Tasmanian possums.

Lenah Game Meats proprietor John Kelly, of Rocherlea in Tasmania, said he could sell A$1 million worth of possum fur across the Tasman immediately, if he was given a legal green light.

Mr Kelly, who previously operated a possum abattoir at Highclere, said he believed possums could become a big earner for Tasmania, because there was a big market in NZ for possum fur mixed with fine merino wool to create a light, highly insulating and soft fabric.

"I could sell $1 million worth of skins to New Zealand tomorrow because they have built up a market," he said.

"[And] there is definitely a market for possum meat in China."

The proposal has outraged animal rights groups critical of commercial exploitation of a native animal, but was welcomed by farmers who said they were sick of possums destroying their crops.

Last year an estimated 376,000 opossums were slaughtered for crop protection but possum products have not been exported since 2004, when the last management plan expired.

The Australian government's new management plan aims to "assist in reducing the adverse impacts of brushtail possums on primary production while ensuring the ecological sustainability of brushtail possum harvesting in Tasmania".

Populations would be closely monitored and quotas would be decided annually.

- NZPA