Salmon Tasmania, state government slammed over apparent decline of Maugean Skate in Macquarie Harbour

Anti-salmon farming groups have skated in to save a “rare” fish from the brink of extinction, saying the species is comparable to the Thylacine. BARBS FLY >

Maugean Skate (Zearaja maugeana)

ANTI-salmon farming groups have rushed to defend a “rare fish species” pushed to the “brink of extinction” amid a major salmon fishing operation in Macquarie Harbour.

The groups have launched a scathing attack on Salmon Tasmania and the state government’s Salmon Plan, claiming the critically endangered Maugean Skate was in “catastrophic decline” and protection was “imperative to its survival”.

But Salmon Tasmania said the uproar was “another attack on the livelihoods” of thousands of salmon farm workers.

Scientific experts told the Mercury on Thursday immediate action was needed to ensure the species, which has been around since prehistoric times, would survive.

Maugean skate, an endangered species photographed in Macquarie Harbour.

The Tasman Peninsula Marine Protection (TPMP) group went as far to compare the Maugean Skate to the Tasmanian tiger, and the Rockliff government’s Salmon Plan – launched at the start of May – was “ignoring the Thylacine in the room”.

“Members continue to be angered by the failure of the Salmon Plan to address negative impacts on our marine environment,” TPMP president Terry Brumby said.

“In recent years, government have been incapable of recognising the urgency of any tangible action to reverse the critical decline and demise of the Maugean Skate.”

A spokesperson from the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) called for improved regulations on fish farming and said in seven years, the population of the “rare” Maugean Skate in Macquarie Harbour had diminished by nearly half (47 per cent).

“Macquarie Harbour is a case study in how our environmental laws are letting down the environment and the community,” said EDO Tasmania Managing Lawyer Claire Bookless.

The Australia Institute weighed-in on the issue, saying they would unite with the groups to call for an immediate halt to salmon farming in the harbour.

“The Tasmanian salmon industry will go down in history for being linked to the extinction of a species if business as usual continues,” a spokesperson said.

Salmon Tasmania hit back at the claims, saying the salmon industry had “the highest regulatory framework of any primary industry in Tasmania”.

“This is another attack on the livelihoods of the 5,100 people and their families who rely on Tasmania’s salmon industry,” a spokesperson said.

“The Tasmanian Government through NRE Tas had made a commitment to develop and implement a conservation action plan for the Maugean Skate. We stand ready to work with the government to make sure that plan is implemented so we can continue to operate sustainably in Macquarie Harbour for generations to come.”

Premier Rockliff addressed concerns over the fish on Friday.

“We recognise the uniqueness of the Maugean Skate in Macquarie and Bathurst Harbours and a lot of work has been undertaken to ensure the protection of the species,” Mr Rockliff said.

A general anti-salmon farming protest over the current state of Tasmania’s reef life will be held at Mickeys Beach near Eggs and Bacon Bay at 10am on Saturday.

The Maugean Skate is listed as endangered under Tasmania’s Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.