Issues in the Implementation of Nonpoint Source Pollution Mitigation: A Case Study of Potential Expansion of the Sugar Industry in North Queensland

Research to evaluate economic options to mitigate pollution in Dugong Protected Area’s near cane growing regions is hampered by a limited knowledge of biochemical pollution mitigation processes and seagrass ecology. Determining least cost mitigation policies needs to proceed with caution to identify non-regret policies that are most likely to result in net reductions in pollutant loads. Results of some preliminary analysis of pollution mitigation devices are presented in this paper with an examination of the feasibility of linking on-ground work with economic instruments such as water pricing and tradeable permits to encourage greater compliance