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The Maugean skate is thought only to survive in Macquarie Harbour where salmon farms are reducing oxygen levels in the water. Photograph: Jane Ruckert
Tasmanian salmon farms could face restrictions to save endangered fish
(AUSTRALIA, 11/8/2023)
The following is an excerpt from an article published by The Guardian:
Tanya Plibersek tells state she may reconsider approvals because of ‘catastrophic’ impact on Maugean skate
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Source: Australian Government
Tanya Plibersek has written to the Tasmanian government to flag she may reconsider the future of decade-old salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour due to concern about their impact on a critically endangered species.
It follows scientific warnings the salmon industry is having a “catastrophic” impact on the Maugean skate, an ancient fish thought to be found only in the vast harbour on the state’s west coast.
The federal threatened species scientific committee reported in September that “substantial recent evidence indicates a high risk of extinction for the species in the near future”, and recommended urgent action including reducing the amount of salmon to improve dissolved oxygen levels before summer.
In the letter to the Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, on Monday, the environment minister said evidence considered by a skate recovery team had found better regulation and monitoring of “lower salmon farming industry loads” would be an important step in protecting the species.
“This last remaining population is under enormous pressure due to the low oxygen levels and poor water quality in the harbour,” the environment minister said in the letter, seen by Guardian Australia. “Urgent action must be taken to change this. Failure to do so will have implications for the long-term viability of important regional industries and jobs, especially in tourism and aquaculture.”
 Plibersek said environment officials were examining three requests – from the Australia Institute, the Bob Brown Foundation and the Environmental Defenders’ Office – for a “reconsideration” of whether the salmon industry had the approvals it needed to operate in Macquarie Harbour. If the requests were found to have legal validity it would trigger “a broad consultation” with the state government, the salmon industry, its workers, their union and the community.
“If the reconsideration finds that the salmon industry in Macquarie Harbour does not have the necessary environmental approvals, [national environment law] would require operations to pause while approvals are sought,” Plibersek said.
“But I will look at any action I can take, consistent with my legal obligations… to support the Tasmanian government regulator, and the salmon farming industry, to put their operations on a truly sustainable footing.”
A decision to reconsider the approval of farms owned by Tassal, Petuna and Huon Aquaculture would likely spark a fierce response from the industry, and be opposed by it supporters in the Liberal state government and Labor opposition. [Continues...]
Source: The Guardian | Read the full article by clicking the link here
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