To keep to her ‘no extinctions’ pledge Tanya Plibersek faces tough decisions on salmon, hydro
Tanya Plibersek’s ‘no more extinctions’ pledge could compel her to throw 110 workers out of their jobs, trigger a war with one of Australia’s richest industries and curtail energy production.
Tanya Plibersek’s “no more extinctions” pledge could compel her to throw 110 workers out of their jobs, trigger a war with one of Australia’s richest industries and curtail energy production.
The federal Environment Minister has written to the Tasmanian government to warn that the maugean skate, found only in western Tasmania’s remote Macquarie Harbour, is “at very high risk of extinction”.
In a letter on May 25, she blamed the unique species’ plight on decreased oxygen levels in the water because of salmon farming and hydro schemes.
“This problem is not new and is a combination of increased nutrient loads from salmon farming aquaculture and altered hydrology from hydro-electric operations,” Ms Plibersek wrote. “I am sure you share my sense of urgency about the need to ensure all possible avenues to prevent extinction of this species are vigorously pursued.”
A federal-state recovery team is shaping a rescue plan for the skate, which scientists say has declined in numbers by 47 per cent since 2014 and may be only one severe weather event away from oblivion.
However, critics say it is a “plan to make a plan”, with no concrete action on the harbour and the team is not due to meet for another three months.
The Australia Institute and Bob Brown Foundation have written to Ms Plibersek invoking federal environment law to formally request a review of 2012 federal government approval for salmon farming in the harbour.
Ms Plibersek must respond and any decision can be challenged in the Federal Court.
Both groups cited recent scientific studies pointing to salmon farming as a significant factor in the species’ demise and research suggesting removing fish pens would see a 43 per cent increase in healthy water.
“That decision in 2012 said salmon farming must not have an impact on the maugean skate; based on the evidence, it absolutely is, so the decision needs to be reviewed,” said BBF marine campaigner Alistair Allan. “Time is of the essence here so if the minister doesn’t act, that opens the pathway for a court order to halt fish farming in the harbour. We are exploring that option.
“The easiest and simplest thing is for the federal minister to stop fish farming there. She stood up and said ‘no new extinctions’ and here we are: she has one at her door. She needs to stand by her promise.”
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. “There is no clear scientific evidence removing salmon from Macquarie Harbour will save the skate, but it certainly will cripple the West Coast community and economy,” said Luke Martin, chief executive of Salmon Tasmania, which has pledged $750,000 for the skate’s recovery.
AWU official Robert Flanagan said workers “should not be put out of work on the basis of incomplete science”.
Ms Plibersek declined to comment on her looming review decision but defended the recovery team as “undertaking work to urgently improve dissolved oxygen levels ... and initiate a (skate) captive breeding program”.
“Unlike the previous government, the Albanese Labor government does not accept extinctions as inevitable.”
The state government said it had taken urgent action to help the species, including reducing nitrogen inputs and gillnetting, and the recovery team was “working on short and long-term conservation management actions to further minimise threats”.
Australia Institute Tasmania director Eloise Carr said Ms Plibersek should remove fish pens from the harbour after the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies scientists in May said urgent changes to salmon farming, recreational fishing and hydro flows were needed to avoid the species’ extinction.
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