Tasmanian salmon industry to invest $750,000 into saving Maugean skate from extinction

A species on the brink of extinction in Macquarie Harbour has been given a boost after the state’s salmon industry announced a funding commitment to help save it from oblivion.

Maugean skate, an endangered species photographed in Macquarie Harbour.

Tasmania’s three salmon companies have jointly committed $750,000 to help save the endangered Maugean skate, in what the industry says is one of the biggest private sector funding contributions to a wildlife conservation project in the state’s history.

Tassal, Huon Aquaculture and Petuna made the announcement on Friday morning and urged other stakeholder industries with a vested interest in Macquarie Harbour – the last known habitat of the skate – to follow their lead.

Luke Martin, the chief executive of Salmon Tasmania, the peak industry body, said aquaculture companies had “done the heavy lifting and will continue to take a lead role in supporting research to understand why the skate population has declined”.

“But it’s important other industries and stakeholders with a long-term presence in the harbour are also invested in the solutions,” he said.

Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin. Picture: Chris Kidd

“The scientists and stakeholders sitting in the room understand there are a complex range of factors influencing the Macquarie Harbour environment, and potentially the skate population.

“It is plain wrong, and threatens the survival of the skate, to focus myopically on one factor or one industry.”

The salmon companies will chip in $750,000 for the development of a conservation action plan for the Maugean skate, which is listed as endangered under the state’s Threatened Species Protection Act, as well as the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Recent monitoring data published by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies indicated there had been a significant decline in the last population of the ancient species at Macquarie Harbour.

Tassal salmon pens, in Macquarie Harbour, Strahan, West Coast of Tasmania. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

The Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments have together formed a Maugean Skate National Recovery Team in a desperate bid to save the species from oblivion.

The salmon industry has also previously invested $500,000 into skate research in recent years.

Conservationists have demanded an immediate cessation of salmon farming in the harbour, blaming it for the decline in dissolved oxygen levels that are believed to be afflicting the skate.

However, the industry has hit back by saying that other stakeholders in the harbour, including the mining industry, Hydro Tasmania, TasWater and recreational and commercial fishers, also needed to accept responsibility for addressing the problem.

Bob Brown Foundation Antarctic and marine campaigner Alistair Allan said it was too late for salmon companies to “try and cover up all the damage that has been caused [in the harbour]”.

“Unfortunately for [the salmon industry], even with a commitment of $750,000, the ship has kind of sailed,” he said. “We need to do all we can to save this animal and the first thing [to do] is get salmon farms out of the harbour.”

Originally published as Tasmanian salmon industry to invest $750,000 into saving Maugean skate from extinction