The State government has released the outcomes from the recent Federal and State government workshops focusing on the extinction of the Maugean Skate in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s west coast.
In a short two-page communique the Tasmanian and Federal governments have revealed that it has extended an invitation to such groups as the Copper Mines of Tasmania, but not a single Tasmanian environmental organisation has been offered a place on the Recovery Team.
It also says that it is starting with proactive and precautionary measures to address known threats, but provides no detail as to what these are, aside from changes to gillnetting, that were already underway.
“Minister Plibersek must immediately take proactive and precautionary measures against one of the biggest known threats, which is farmed salmon and trout farms in Macquarie Harbour” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine Campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.
“These farms need to be removed from Macquarie Harbour immediately. That is an obvious proactive and precautionary measure”.
“With industry lobby group Salmon Tasmania firmly present at the table, previously stating on radio that the science is ‘inconclusive’ on what is causing the imminent extinction of one of Australia’s oldest and unique animals, there must be a representative from the Tasmanian environment movement present that knows all too well the lengths industrial salmon will go to hide the truth”.
“The science is not inconclusive, in fact every other body in the Recovery Team is fully aware and, in some cases, conducted the science that showed salmon farming was affecting the Maugean Skates survival.”
“There is no need for a long a drawn out consultation when the science is already clear, fish farms must get out of Macquarie Harbour”
“I call on both Tanya Plibersek and Roger Jaensch to extend an offer to the Tasmanian environmental groups working on the Maugean Skate’s survival and our marine environments.”
Photo by: Jane Ruckert