The federal government is urging Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff to take immediate action to save the endangered Maugean skate, a fish species endemic to Macquarie Harbour on the West Coast.
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has sent a letter to Rockliff, emphasising the urgent need to improve low oxygen levels and poor water quality in Macquarie Harbour.
The Threatened Species Scientific Committee say they have identified unsustainable salmon farming, hydro operations and climate change as the primary threats to the Maugean skate.
“This last remaining population is under enormous pressure due to the low oxygen levels and poor water quality in the harbour,” Plibersek said.
“Urgent action must be taken to change this. Failure to do so will have implications for the long-term viability of important regional industries and jobs, especially in tourism and aquaculture.”
Plibersek says she has received requests from various environmental organisations to reconsider the approvals for the salmon farming industry in Macquarie Harbour, including from the Bob Brown Foundation, who are among those calling on Plibersek to do ‘everything in her power’ to protect the skate.
“Removing salmon farms from Macquarie Harbour is necessary to protect the Skate, a species on the brink of extinction that only occurs in this harbour,” Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine Campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation said.
“The Australian public loves our oceans and the animals that inhabit them and it’s Minister Plibersek’s job to protect them.”
“Minister Plibersek promised no new extinctions, if she is to keep that promise then fish farms must be removed from Macquarie Harbour. The Maugean skate must not be allowed to vanish from this planet forever.”
If the reconsideration finds that the salmon industry does not have the necessary environmental approvals, aquaculture operations may be paused.
The state government say they are committed to saving the Maugean skate and are exploring different ways to support its natural habitat.
Just last week, they announced $2.1 million in funding for a captive breeding program for the skate.
This initiative aims to support measurement, modelling and monitoring activities critical to informed decisions on sustaining the aquaculture sector and ensuring the skate’s survival in the wild.
Salmon Tasmania has also recently pledged $6 million to an oxygenation program in the harbor, designed to facilitate the recovery of the skate population.
