An ancient and endangered skate (related to rays and sharks), which can only be found in a remote corner of western Tasmania, could be wiped out by salmon farming, prompting an extraordinary warning from some of the nation's foremost marine scientists.
14 Professors and five Fellows from the Australian Academy of Science are among more than 30 experts who have written to Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek to defend the science behind the plight of the Maugean skate, which is teetering on the brink of extinction.
The salmon industry and some politicians have been seeking to undermine scientific evidence which overwhelming finds that open cage salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour is the primary cause of the skate's demise.
The skate is recognised as one of the Gondwana-era natural values of Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage Area. Its potential extinction carries global significance.
Signatories to the letter also include the immediate former Chair of Australia's Threatened Species Scientific Committee plus a string of scientists who have had leadership roles in national and international marine organisations and institutions.
Key Findings:
- Signatories on the open letter to Minister Plibersek include five Fellows from the Australian Academy of Science. These are among the Nation's most distinguished scientists, elected by their peers for ground-breaking research and contributions which have had clear impact.
- The signatories also include internationally recognised experts in aquaculture, fisheries and sustainability science.
- The letter calls on the Minister to act urgently to prevent the extinction of Maugean skate.
- Signatories confirm that scientific evidence is more than sufficient to apply the precautionary principle and remove the key threatening unsustainable operations of salmonid (salmon and trout) farming from Macquarie Harbour to help prevent the extinction of the Maugean skate.
- They call on the Minister to revoke the 2012 decision which allowed expanded fish-farming and, instead, recognise the science which concludes that unacceptable impacts are occurring in Macquarie Harbour.
- Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage Area includes one third of Macquarie Harbour, the only home of Maugean skate. Maugean skate are recognised as a World Heritage value.
- The 2012 decision that allowed large-scale fish farming (for salmon and trout) has been under reconsideration by Minister Plibersek for over 10 months, despite her department's advice to urgently 'eliminate or significantly reduce' fish biomass before last summer.
- The potential extinction of the Maugean Skate is an issue of global significance.
"Signatories to this letter are global leaders in marine and sustainability science," said Stewart Frusher, retired Professor, Marine Science, University of Tasmania, and former director, Centre for Marine Socioecology.
"They have concerns for both the future of the endangered Maugean skate and Australia's international reputation for sustainable management of its coastal waters, if fish farming continues in Macquarie Harbour.
"The science could not be clearer. The best available evidence concludes unacceptable impacts from salmon farming are occurring. Fish farming in Macquarie Harbour is 'almost certain' to have a 'catastrophic' impact on Maugean skate.
"This is the opposite of sustainable development and fish farming in Macquarie Harbour needs to end."
"Salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour has been identified by the Nation's Threatened Species Scientific Committee as the key threatening process for the endangered Maugean skate," said Andrew Wright, former Executive Secretary, Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and former Executive Director, Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
"We acknowledge that removal of salmon farming will have impacts on the local community.
"Governments, who have allowed this situation to occur, and industry who have benefited through their unsustainable actions in the Harbour over more than a decade, are responsible for supporting the community once farming is removed.
"We have no right to deny future generations a less diverse and sustainable world than what we inherited."
"This is a letter by scientists, in defence of the science about Maugean skate," said Eloise Carr, Director of The Australia Institute Tasmania.
"The Institute was asked to help promote the letter, given the important role we have played in triggering the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act reconsideration."
The open letter to Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek is attached.
