Tanya Plibersek slammed for skating around Tasmanian extinction threat and ‘making a zoo’

Tanya Plibersek has declined to act on new, high-level scientific advice a ‘priority’ endangered species will go extinct unless salmon farm impacts are reduced in a Tasmanian harbour before summer.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and friend. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Tanya Plibersek has declined to act on scientific advice that a ­“priority” endangered species will go extinct unless salmon farm impacts are reduced in a Tasmanian harbour before summer.

The Threatened Species Scientific Committee on Thursday updated its advice on the Maugean skate, a rare stingray-like fish clinging to existence in only one place on earth: Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.

Its advice warns of the “high risk of extinction” of the ancient species “in the near future” and recommends “urgent actions … prior to summer 2023”.

These include “a reduction in salmonid aquaculture organic loads”, which it concludes are having a “catastrophic” impact on the species. “There is a significant correlation between the reduction in dissolved oxygen levels and increases in salmonid aquaculture, due to the bacterial degradation of organic material introduced into the water column from fish-feed and fish-waste,” the committee advised.

However, the federal Environment Minister – under pressure to use her powers to reconsider 2012’s federal approval for salmon farming in the harbour – instead announced a $2.1m captive breeding program for the skate.

The program was recommended by the committee but the announcement – without action on salmon farming – brought condemnation and mockery from conservationists.

“When the minister promised no new extinctions on her watch, I don’t think the Australian public imagined that meant we would have a threatened species zoo,” said Alistair Allan, Bob Brown Foundation marine campaigner. “Captive breeding is not the solution. In the federal government’s updated conservation plan, released today, they list fish farm impacts on the skate as ‘catastrophic’, so that’s what must be addressed.”

Ms Plibersek is yet to respond to questions from The Australian about why she has not acted on the advice to reduce salmon pollution impacts, or whether this remains an option under consideration.

A Maugean skate.

Any significant winding back of salmon farming in the West Coast harbour would spark a major industry, political and community backlash.

The salmon industry and the Australian Workers Union say removal of fish pens from the harbour would cost 110 jobs and devastate the local economy.

They say there is “no clear scientific evidence” that removing salmon would save the skate.

Ms Plibersek, however, on Thursday again acknowledged the industry’s impact on the skate, of which fewer than 1000 individuals remain after the loss of almost half the species since 2014.

“We know the key threats remain poor water quality in Macquarie Harbour from aquaculture, hydro operations and climate change,” Ms Plibersek said. “Our government is committed to doing what we can to assist, and we urge the salmon industry and Tasmanian government to take the action needed to clean up Macquarie Harbour so the Maugean skate can survive for another 100 million years.”

Conservation and policy groups said that was a “cop-out”, with the Tasmanian government “hostage” to the industry and Ms Plibersek “abrogating her responsibilities” under federal law.

The Tasmanian government insisted it was taking action to save the skate. “We established an expert recovery team, which comprises the Australian government, community members and industry stakeholders, to develop a conservation action plan,” Environ­ment Minister Roger Jaensch said.

Tasmania is yet to reduce salmon farming or adjust river flows by hydro-electric operations – another measure scientists say could improve water quality.

Coalition environment spokesman Jonno Duniam called on Ms Plibersek to guarantee salmon jobs. “Environmental decisions must balance the environment with the economy – you can’t have one without the other,” he said.