Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has, once again, delayed making an important decision to save the endangered Maugean skate in Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Last week, 30 of the nation's top marine scientists urged Ms Plibersek to intervene to save the skate, an ancient ray-like species found only in a remote corner of western Tasmania.
There is a mountain of scientific evidence proving that expanded salmon farming operations in Macquarie Harbour - home to the world's only Maugean sake population - are almost certain to have a "catastrophic" impact on the skate.
The Minister has had that evidence for more than a year, with scientists urging her to overturn a 2012 decision which allowed toxic, industrial-scale salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.
Now, the Minister has put off making yet another key decision on the future of the skate. She's delayed changing the skate's official threatened species status from "endangered" to "critically endangered" by a year, to October 30, 2025 - after the federal election.
Key points:
- Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, has two decisions to make about the future of the Maugean skate:
- Accept the science and reverse a 2012 decision which brought catastrophic, large-scale salmon farming to Macquarie Harbour.
- Change the skate's official status from "endangered" to "critically endangered".
- On the first issue, the Minister has done nothing, despite pleas from scientists and volumes of evidence proving the Maugean skate is on the verge of extinction.
- On the second issue, the Minister has now kicked the can down the road by a year.
- In May last year, Threatened Species Commissioner Dr Fiona Fraser told the Senate Environment Committee "regardless of the uplisting, conservation action still needs to be taken, and still could be taken to address … the current suite of threats. Addressing that current suite of threats is not contingent on the uplisting occurring or any new conservation advice being agreed. There's sufficient information to know that the species is significantly imperilled."
"Whether the skate is listed as endangered or critically endangered, we have more than enough evidence that action is urgently required to prevent the skate's extinction. And we know what that action is," said Eloise Carr, Director, Australia Institute Tasmania.
"The science is clear: salmon farms have got to go if we are to prevent the extinction of the skate and return the harbour to a healthy ecosystem.
"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, according to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee."
"National environment law requires a decision from federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek 'as soon as practicable' on the reconsideration of the 2012 decision that allowed large scale salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. That timeframe has now passed. There is no plausible excuse for why she is taking so long to make this decision. The skate can't wait."
