EPA director Wes Ford asked to refuse renewal of Macquarie Harbour salmon licences

Lawyers for a leading conservation group have written to the head of Tasmania’s environmental watchdog, asking him to refuse the looming renewal of salmon farm licences in Macquarie Harbour.

EPA Director Wes Ford. Picture: Richard Jupe

A member of the Maugean skate recovery team has asked Tasmania’s environmental watchdog to reject the renewal of salmon farm licences in Macquarie Harbour, which are due to expire in November.

There are fewer than 1000 Maugean skates left in the harbour on Tasmania’s West Coast, which is understood to be the last known habitat of the ancient species.

Monitoring data released by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies earlier this year found there had been a significant decline in the last known population of the skate.

Furthermore, conservation advice prepared by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, published last month, recommended that the “impacts of salmonid aquaculture on dissolved oxygen concentrations” be eliminated or significantly reduced in the harbour before this summer to save the Maugean skate.

Maugean skate.

Dr Leonardo Guida, a shark scientist with the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and member of the Maugean skate recovery team, said the fish was “literally choking to death … because of salmon farming depleting the oxygen the skate needs to survive”.

He said the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), who act as legal advisers to the AMCS, had written to Environment Protection Authority director Wes Ford, asking him to exercise his powers under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act to refuse renewal of 10 licences for fish farming in the harbour.

The licences are set to expire on November 30.

“The salmon fish farms must go from Macquarie Harbour, but if the EPA chooses to renew the licences in November, then it must be transparent and immediately hand over information about the environmental damages the fish farms have caused, including breaches of conditions and infringement notices as well as fish escapes, deaths and disease,” Dr Guida said.

Dr Leonardo Guida of the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Picture: Supplied

Dr Guida is one of 20 members of the Maugean skate recovery team – jointly appointed by the state and federal governments – which has been tasked with finding ways of saving the skate.

EDO managing lawyer Claire Bookless said the recent conservation advice made it clear that “the key threat to the skate’s survival is poor water quality … and that the primary cause is fish farming”.

Tasmania’s three salmon companies, Tassal, Huon Aquaculture, and Petuna, have jointly committed $750,000 to help save the skate.

Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin. Picture: Chris Kidd

Salmon Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin has urged other industries and stakeholders with a presence in the harbour to invest in “solutions”.

He has also hit out at salmon farming opponents who he said were focusing “myopically on one factor or one industry”, which he believes “threatens the survival of the skate”.

West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt has also raised concerns about any potential move to reduce salmon biomass in the harbour, saying it could put 25 per cent of jobs in Strahan at risk.