There is an art to stealing eggs from wild crocodile nest.

'The first thing you do,' says Adam Britton, 'is make sure the crocodile is not actually there.'

The Charles Darwin University researcher has just spend the last six years studying the harvest of wild saltwater crocodile eggs in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula.

The practise was outlawed in Queensland in the 1970's but Britton says his research shows the sunshine state can bring it back.

'What we've found is it's not having any effect on the wild population,' he says.

'A lot of eggs are affected by the extensive flooding here, so we are rescuing eggs that wouldn't have survived anyway,' Mr Britton said.

Wild egg harvests are a thriving business for indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, bringing economic and management benefits to the area.

The Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell says a decision on egg harvesting would require approval from the Federal Government.

'It's not a simple overnight decision we can make but it's something we're keen to explore. There's a lot of interest from the Aboriginal communities along the Cape.'

Demand for crocodile eggs is significant, with eggs worth up to $40 each. A crocodile nest can hold up to 50 eggs, making them a valuable natural resource.