The Australian government has confirmed their decision to allow salmon farming to proceed in Macquarie Harbour, a location within Tasmania. This decision comes despite the objections of conservationists who worry about the impact on the endangered Maugean skate. The Bob Brown Foundation and the Australia Institute have accused the environment minister, Murray Watt, of pushing the skate towards extinction with this decision.
Watt has defended his stance, claiming that all factors were thoroughly evaluated before making this choice. He highlighted the government’s continued commitment to protecting the Maugean skate, including financial support for measures to improve the oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour. Watt’s decision was facilitated by recent amendments to Australia’s environmental laws, which were meant to prevent reconsideration of developments deemed not to be “controlled actions,” provided they were already in progress and had been ongoing for at least five years.
The changes to the law were introduced before the May federal election and were a contentious issue, with sharp opposition from environmental groups, symbolized by the action of Green party spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young waving a dead salmon in the senate.
Critics argue that Watt’s use of the new law to permit salmon farming without full assessment is both controversial and harmful, effectively dooming the Maugean skate to extinction. They express disappointment that a species recognized as a priority for threatened species protection just three years ago is now being abandoned.
The Australia Institute’s Tasmania director, Eloise Carr, pointed out Watt’s initial stance on the need for the salmon industry to improve its sustainability. She believes Watt’s decision undoes that promise and prioritizes the commercial interests of the salmon farms over environmental concerns. Tasmanians are frustrated with the perceived inaction of the government regarding the harmful effects of the salmon industry on local waterways, Carr added.
The Maugean skate, listed as endangered since 2004, has seen its numbers dwindle significantly due to salmon farming activities in Macquarie Harbour. A government scientific committee previously suggested that the phosphate from fish feed in salmon farms was a main cause for reduced dissolved oxygen levels in the harbor, posing a significant threat to the skate’s survival. The committee recommended that salmon farms in the harbor be reduced and considered the skate critically endangered. Let’s bring you the latest news updates that matter to your life.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/14/albanese-government-reaffirms-decision-to-allow-salmon-farming-in-tasmania-despite-fears-for-endangered-maugean-skate
