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
It is outrageous that unhealthy salmon farming is endangering sealife eg the Maugean skate found only in Macquarie Harbour! Stop this polluting fish farming asap!
Urgent intervention needed
It is logical to protect what is irreplaceable.
Please urgently declare salmon farming in Macquarie harbour a ‘controlled action’ requiring assessment under Australia’s nature laws.
Wake up you bloody idiots. Show some guts and put the planet first.
Salmon farming adversely affects the environment.
The Australian government should take action to stop the decline of Maugean skates.
The salmon industry can move. The skate cannot. The salmon industry is unable or unwilling to address its serious environmental impacts in enclosed waters. The EPBC Act is directly relevant. Salmon farming is undoubtedly a key threatening process endangering the skate.
Dear Tanya,
Please intercede in the imminent extinction of the Maugean skate.
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.
Thankyou in advance of your help.
Sincerely,
Dean W, Denham
Dear Minister
Please recue the Maugean Skate from the appalling practices of the salmon farming industry.
It will be yet another crime against the future of this planet to lose another species when it would be so easy to save it. This is in your hands; please be wise.
Dear Minister
Please reconsider the decision to allow salmon farming anywhere without an environmental assessment.
The information below indicates that the Maugean skate in maquarie harbour is in danger of extinction if action is not taken immediately to preserve its habitat and breeding capability.
Please nominate the Maugean skate as a protected matter and consider the comments below:
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.
Regards
Ted Streatfeild
“You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”
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The eco system has a value above and beyond dollars.
With each species driven to extinction the world is poorer
Salmon farming is an abhorant practice, and to loose these amazing creatures as a result of it is a crime and a tragedy. Close the Salmon farm down!!!
Dear Minister,
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.
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.
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.
Australian extinction rates are among the highest in the world and it is time to take responsible action to counter balance this now. Please consider the future of the environment as a sustainable practice.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards,
Liana Piccoli
Why do humans feel they have the ultimate right/power to benefit themselves to the detriment of EVERYTHING else? We are a horrible species.
Once they are GONE they are GONE ,,along with many other forms of sea life .VERY SAD >>>
Every living thing has the right to do so without the imposition of humanity.
The salmon farm requires a mandatory assessment as 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.
Creatures disappearing at a phenomenal rate & no-one doing anything to stop it.
When will it stop? When will they put the future ahead of year’s profit margin?
Salmon farming needs to be moved to an area far away from the shore line so that it’s pollution does not destroy the environment for the other creatures that depend on the water along the shoreline. The Maugean Skate is in rapid decline, and is thought to exist only in this region of Tasmania where the salmon farming is polluting and causing their decline.
Healthy sustainable farming needs to be addressed here. Please stop the salmon farming from destroying the fish and all life that depend on the environment there.
Can the Salmon be moved or a controlled action , can there be something done to help the dissolved oxygen levels , the Government has to save the Maugean Skate , this has to be urgently fixed
Put your fish farms inland and deal with your own waste! Get them out of our waterways and stop polluting out oceans
SHAME SHAME SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!