Call for urgent action on endangered Maugean skate in Hobart’s Macquarie Harbour

Governments need to stop passing the buck and take action to save Tasmania’s most endangered species, the Australia Institute says.

Maugean Skate (Zearaja maugeana)

All salmon farming needs to end in Macquarie Harbour urgently to protect the last habitat of the endangered Maugean skate, the Australia Institute says.

The think tank has written to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, urging her to revisit a 2012 federal government decision allowing an expansion of fish farming in the area.

Numbers of the Maugean skate have crashed by 47 per cent since 2012, according to a recent study by the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.

Macquarie Harbour is the last place in the world the species — dubbed the Tasmanian tiger of the seas — is known to exist.

Australia Institute Tasmania director Eloise Carr says Ms Plibersek is obliged by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to take action to prevent the extinction of the species.

Maugean skate, an endangered species photographed in Macquarie Harbour.

“Based on new evidence in the IMAS report, we have requested a review of the decision to allow expanded salmon farming operations,” Ms Carr said.

“We think the correct decision, in light of the new evidence, would be to immediately and fully protect the Maugean skate by ceasing marine farming in Macquarie Harbour.”

“If the Minister fails to act to stop salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour, we think she will be in breach of the law.

“Macquarie Harbour is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and the Maugean skate is one of the World Heritage Area’s values.”

“The federal government can’t just keep passing the buck to the Tasmanian Government.

“The federal Minister has obligations to act to protect the skate under the EPBC Act, the World Heritage Convention, Australian World Heritage management principles and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan.”

The 2012 decision to expand salmon farming operations in Macquarie Harbour was made on the understanding it would not affect adversely impact the species.
The skate has been listed as endangered since 2004.

Senate Estimates hearings last month heard Ms Plibersek intended writing to the state government “urging extreme intervention” on behalf of the stake.

IMAS researcher Professor Jayson Semmens said the skate was particularly vulnerable.

“The environmental changes in the harbour have increased the skate’s vulnerability to sudden high-impact events, such as water column turn-over driven by westerly winds, which can happen at any moment and potentially decimate the population,” he said.

The report also recommended consideration of a captive breeding program to ensure the specie’s survival.

Funding for monitoring the skate runs out this year.