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
There is nothing good about this industry.
We don’t need industrial Salmon farming to the extent its at,our Skates have to be protected.
This needs to stop, the Salmon industry must be held accountable for the devastation of the surrounding flora and fauna
There is now ample evidence that salmon fish farming in Macquarie Harbour puts the Maugean skate at high risk of extinction.
The 2012 decision by the then Environment Minister that assessment on the impact of salmon farming now requires reversal and reconsideration under relevant nature laws.
We must take action now and save the Maugean skate from extinction. They only have one home, Macquarie Harbour, and we are destroying it by the minute. Salmon farming has caused the alarming decrease of the Maugean skate by 47% in the last 7 years. It is necessary to asses Australia’s nature laws to keep this species alive.
The Maugham skate is not the only marine life threatened by salmon farming. Please Minister Plibersek revoke that decision…Salmon farming’s affect on the marine environment really needs monitoring! Look at what happened in Canada and Norway for models of its impact on marine environment… Yours etc, Peter Lloyd.
please protect our wildlife. What a sad and broken world it will be when they are gone.
This issue needs addressing NOW. These animals only live in this particular area and has done since time began. Salmon live several areas and farms can be relocated. Please do something note worthy about this problem before it’s too late and another Labor promise will be broken.
I plead with authorities to Reduce salmon farming to ensure this rareskate survives
We don’t want to lose another species, please help.
Please take some action. Sitting on your hands is NOT acceptable. Thanks.
Sooooo important that we not allow the eradication of ANY species
Save the skate. Farmed salmon is polluting and unnecessary.
Please heed this urgent request to protect and preserve ahead of profit.
Its all about money and greed
The salmon industry in Tasmania is an environmental nightmare!
You need intelligence and integrity to balance the ecology. Greed won’t. It just destroys and milks everything dry. Humans can go farm elsewhere. The skate has no choice.
Each fish farm pen produces the same daily dung as 500 or so cattle….in a feedlot this is a problem, and we are told that it’s not in aquaculture. Rubbish!!
Animals deserve to keep their habitats
Dear Minister Plibersek,
The Maugean skate population in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania are having their environment destroyed by commercial salmon farming.
As this is the only area that Maugean skate exist it is vital to protect their environment before this species is pushed toward extinction.
It is now well known about the dreadful environmental impact commercial salmon farming has on the marine environment and animals.
Please act swiftly to protect the environment in Macquarie Harbour & in particular, the Maugean skate before it’s too late.
Regards,
Wendy Cook
Salmon farming seems to be toxic and should not be encouraged.
Commercial salmon farming is wrecking our marine environments and needs much stronger regulation.
Please help to protect our vulnerable species by protecting their environment.