Comments for the ACF community submission are now closed.
However, comments via the Australian Government's consultation hub remain open until Friday 2 February. Use the talking points on this page and send your message directly to the government!
The Maugean skate is crashing towards extinction from the impacts of industrial salmon farming in its only home of Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania.
Without urgent intervention this marine ray that’s as old as the dinosaurs is likely to disappear forever.
In 2012 the Environment Minister of the day decided salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour didn’t need assessment and approval under Australia’s nature laws. The Maugean skate needs Tanya Plibersek to revoke that decision and declare it does require assessment under Australia’s nature laws, as the first step to getting the skate the emergency relief it needs.
Add a comment and we’ll include it in an ACF Community submission to the government – comments close next week.
What to include in your comment
The minister can choose to reconsider the decision if she deems there is substantial new information about the impacts of salmon farming, or a substantial change in circumstances for the Maugean skate as a protected matter. Use these talking points to craft your comment:
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The Maugean skate population in Macquarie Harbour has declined by 47% in seven years, between 2014 and 2021. The pace of the decline shows its vulnerability to environmental degradation and very few juveniles are reaching adulthood. This raises serious concerns about the species' survival if suitable conditions can’t be delivered.
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New evidence confirms salmon farming’s impact on dissolved oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour, and its contribution to the decline of Maugean skate populations and mass-skate death events.
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Macquarie Harbour is now the only known location of the Maugean skate. It is highly likely it is the only home it has making it critical to its survival. Failing to address the threats to the skates from salmon farming will almost certainly lead to its extinction.
- The Australian Government’s own Conservation Advice for the Maugean skate 'Substantial recent evidence indicates a high risk of extinction for the species in the near future'. and names the 'urgent priority' of 'Eliminating or significantly reducing the impacts of salmonid aquaculture on dissolved oxygen concentrations'.
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The Albanese Government’s pledge to end extinctions demands that the Minister intervenes urgently by declaring salmon farming in Macquarie harbour a 'controlled action' requiring assessment under Australia’s nature laws.
Banner image: Salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. Credit: Crbellete/Shutterstock.
Latest Supporters
No more farms in our oceans. They are the biggest polluters of our time. Farm on land not in the ocean. This government should be ashamed of how they keep giving China permission to log our forests for wood for their country not ours. It’s against the laws of nature in particular for us Aboriginal elders desperately trying to save country from thieves that discriminate our wildlife. Our children and grandchildren deserve a better future. Thank you
Hello, please do what needs to be done to save the remaining Maugean skate. Australia needs to step up and protect all it’s native flora and fauna. This has gone on long enough. We need change and we need it now!
Even though I live in WA, I have visited Tasmania and feel strongly about protecting nature there.
How can we ignore the extremely obvious impact that salmon farming has had on the Maugean skate???
Minister Plibersek, please act immediately to avoid another extinction on your watch!
Enough damage has been done to Macquarie Harbour. Expel the fisheries now.
There is an obvious link between the Salmon Farms and the Maugean skate population decline…. let’s not cause yet another Australian Animal to go extinct
Exction caused by us will eventually lead to our own extinction please reconsider.
How many more native animals do we have to say goodbye to for ever, because governments put their friends in business before what was here before any of us were
Would the Environment Minister please consider changing the law so that assessment and approval is required for the salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour. This is urgently needed to protect yet another species that is threatened by extinction. Many Australians don’t know about the danger to these animals so it is up to our government to protect them. Please consider the new and substantial information that is now available regarding the impact of salmon farming.
Macquarie Harbour is now the only known location of the Maugean skate. It is highly likely it is the only home it has making it critical to its survival. Failing to address the threats to the skates from salmon farming will almost certainly lead to its extinction.
The Maugean skate population in Macquarie Harbour has declined by 47% in seven years, between 2014 and 2021. The pace of the decline shows its vulnerability to environmental degradation and very few juveniles are reaching adulthood. This raises serious concerns about the species’ survival if suitable conditions can’t be delivered.
New evidence confirms salmon farming’s impact on dissolved oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour, and its contribution to the decline of Maugean skate populations and mass-skate death events.
Macquarie Harbour is now the only known location of the Maugean skate. It is highly likely it is the only home it has making it critical to its survival. Failing to address the threats to the skates from salmon farming will almost certainly lead to its extinction.
The Australian Government’s own Conservation Advice for the Maugean skate ‘Substantial recent evidence indicates a high risk of extinction for the species in the near future’. and names the ‘urgent priority’ of ‘Eliminating or significantly reducing the impacts of salmonid aquaculture on dissolved oxygen concentrations’.
The Albanese Government’s pledge to end extinctions demands that the Minister intervenes urgently by declaring salmon farming in Macquarie harbour a ‘controlled action’ requiring assessment under Australia’s nature laws.
Please reverse the decision to salmon farm in Macquarie Harbour. take note of the new evidence that confirms salmon fishings impact and the real risk of yet another animal extinction in Australia.
The recent rapid decline in the Maugean skate population signals that there has been a substantial change in circumstances in its habitat. To meet the government’s pledge to end extinctions, salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour must be declared a ‘controlled action’ requiring assessment under our nature laws.
Having recently visited Tasmanai and observed the Salmon FArming in various esturaries, I have stopped eating the product.
The current intensive farming practice is killing the environment, and in this case of the Macquarie Harbour farms, it’s killing the Maugean skate population in particular.
The Maugean skate population in Macquarie Harbour has declined by 47% in seven years, between 2014 and 2021. The pace of the decline shows its vulnerability to environmental degradation and very few juveniles are reaching adulthood. This raises serious concerns about the species’ survival if suitable conditions can’t be delivered.
New evidence confirms salmon farming’s impact on dissolved oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour, and its contribution to the decline of Maugean skate populations and mass-skate death events.
Macquarie Harbour is now the only known location of the Maugean skate. It is highly likely it is the only home it has making it critical to its survival. Failing to address the threats to the skates from salmon farming will almost certainly lead to its extinction.
The Australian Government’s own Conservation Advice for the Maugean skate ‘Substantial recent evidence indicates a high risk of extinction for the species in the near future’. and names the ‘urgent priority’ of ‘Eliminating or significantly reducing the impacts of salmonid aquaculture on dissolved oxygen concentrations’.
The Albanese Government’s pledge to end extinctions demands that the Minister intervenes urgently by declaring salmon farming in Macquarie harbour a ‘controlled action’ requiring assessment under Australia’s nature laws.
This farming practice is unsustainable and requires urgent review to map out a pathway for the future safety of the natural environment and all its species.
Andrew Marston
Once again, is it worth losing another species on our planet for the sake of an assessment of what is occurring in this very important habitat? Please Tanya, let’s at least find out whether the Maugean skate is being affected by the Salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.
These skates are crucial to the local ecology, save the Skate, and help clean up the water
Please help to reverse the decline of another of our native species! NSW is better than this!
This species must be protected, too many of our native species have disappeared because of industrial farming in it’s many guises. Extinction rates in Australia are alarming. The Minister must intervene immediately.
We simply cannot shut our eyes and turn our backs on the clear impact salmon farming has on skate. Please stop its extinction before it’s too late.
We humans are stewards of thus planet. All creatures are connected and have evolved to balance each other. The skate has its place; its only place. Please protect it.
Dear Minister Plibersek,
The Maugean skate numbers have plummeted to less than 1000 individuals, and all evidence suggests that the delcine is due to salmon farming .
As Environment Minister please urgently reconsider this decision, given the rare and important biodiversity value of this animal and the very significant and unintended consequences of salmon farming on its survival. Lets put our skates on to ‘Save the Skate’.
Cease Salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour immediately Minister Tanya to save the Maugean Skate ..come on just get this done and act accordingly as you are in a Labour government!!!!
I am urge you to reconsider the 2012 decision that exempted salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour from assessment and approval under the EPBC Act.
The Maugean skate, a unique and ancient species of marine ray, is facing imminent extinction due to the impacts of industrial aquaculture on its habitat. The evidence is clear and compelling: salmon farming has caused severe depletion of oxygen levels, increased sedimentation, and widespread dead zones in the harbour. These conditions have led to a drastic decline in the skate population, which is now estimated to be less than 1000 individuals. This is unacceptable and irresponsible.
You have the power and the duty to protect this endangered species and its critical habitat.
Please revoke the 2012 decision and conduct a thorough and independent assessment of the environmental impacts of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour. This is the first and necessary step to ensure the survival and recovery of the Maugean skate.
Thank you for your attention and action.
Yet another example of unforseen circumstances when with very little effort could be foreseen and managed appropriately. Biological diversity when put at risk will bring unforeseen doom to us all.
SAVE the Maugean Skate!
Salmon farming is an appalling mistake and we now know enough to understand how devasting it is to our natural environment, and how poisonous it is for humans as well.
If we continue a culture in Australia of undermining the true importance or biodiversity and environmental protection where do we all think this leads! Protect skate, protect wildlife, stop indiscriminate, mining, and fracking.
Please take salmon farming out of the beautiful water to give the natural flora and sea life a chance to survive as once they’re gone – they’re gone for good.
An opportunity not to be wasted- save the Maugean Skate from extinction PLEASE
Stop the destruction of nature, man is the most selfish being and should be ashamed of the actions. The skate is part of the bio diversity and should be conserved at all costs.
Is it now acceptable that private business can pollute and destroy natural habitats to the point the original flora and fauna become extinct? I thought this was against Australian law? other industries absolutely cannot emit emissions or pollution to the point they destroy surrounding life. Why is destroying a whole body of water ok?