- Endangered Maugean skate is being driven towards extinction in its only home
- Vast majority of funding spent on unproven technology – doubling down on oxygenation program that has barely shifted oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour
- Australian taxpayer subsidising salmon industry for its environmental destruction
- Root cause of Macquarie Harbour’s low oxygen problem has not been addressed – salmon biomass has not been reduced in harbour since skate’s plight became known 18 months ago despite federal government’s conservation advice saying salmon should have been removed from harbour by last summer
- Only 40-120 adult Maugean skates left in Macquarie Harbour
The $28 million the federal government has announced today to help save the Maugean skate from extinction in its only home in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour could be better spent, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and Humane Society International Australia (HSI Australia) said.
The government will spend $21 million on the unproven oxygenation program in Macquarie Harbour, $5 million on the Maugean Skate captive breeding program and $2.5 million on skate population and environmental monitoring, compliance as well as community engagement.
AMCS Fisheries and Threatened Species Campaign Manager Alexia Wellbelove said: “We are keen to see increased effort to save the Maugean skate from extinction in its only home in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, but this $28 million could be much better spent.
“The endangered Maugean skate is choking to death in Macquarie Harbour because intense salmon farming has stripped the waters of oxygen.
“The federal government is doubling down on unproven technology – spending up to $21 million on an oxygenation program that has yet to prove effective in improving oxygen levels in the harbour.
“The fastest way to improve oxygen levels in the harbour is to remove salmon, as was recommended by the federal government’s draft Conservation Advice – which the government postponed finalising for a year, saying it needed the time to consider submissions.
“The root cause of Macquarie Harbour’s oxygen problem has not been addressed. Salmon biomass has not been reduced in the harbour since the Maugean skate’s plight became known 18 months ago.
“The Australian taxpayer is having to subsidise the salmon industry for its environmental destruction and fund a government gamble on unproven technology.”
HSI Australia marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said: “There are only an estimated 40-120 mature skates left in Macquarie Harbour and the Maugean skate is only one more extreme weather event away from extinction. An upturning of deep, oxygen-depleted waters caused by storms in 2019 contributed to wiping out half the skate population, and oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour are still low. At depths of 5-15 metres where the skate lives, oxygen levels have changed little since 2017, and in some cases have worsened.
“The government announced $5 million for the Maugean skate captive breeding program, but any introduced skates will face the same extreme conditions these last remaining adults face.
“The Albanese government made a commitment to zero new extinctions. We are calling on the government to remove salmon biomass from the harbour to meet its commitment to the skate’s survival.
“Macquarie Harbour is part of Tasmania’s World Heritage Area and integral to the state’s reputation for natural beauty and conservation. The extinction of the Maugean skate would be a devastating blow to Australia’s biodiversity and to Tasmania’s brand and natural heritage.”