Today, Threatened Species Day, marks a grim milestone for the Maugean Skate.
On 6 September 2023, the federal government released the conservation advice for the Maugean Skate, with the removal of salmon farms listed as the number one priority action before the summer of 2023. Now, 12 months on, not a single fish farm has been removed from Macquarie Harbour.
“The Maugean Skate has been abandoned by the federal government. Twelve months ago, the day before Threatened Species Day, fish farms were listed as having a catastrophic impact on the Maugean Skate, with their removal being suggested as the number one priority to give the Maugean Skate a chance of survival. Fast forward 365 days and nothing has changed. It is an outrage,” said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine Campaigner at Bob Brown Foundation.
“To add insult to injury, it was revealed in a public Freedom of Information request tribunal initiated by former senator Rex Patrick, that the Environment Minister hasn’t even received a decision brief regarding revoking fish farm approvals in Macquarie Harbour. The federal government seems completely happy to let the Maugean Skate disappear from this planet forever while they stall on any real action at the behest of big salmon.”
“Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, big salmon has now paid a consultant, much like the fossil fuel industry or tobacco industry, to undermine the federal conservation advice. It is straight out of the ‘big industry denying the science and attempting to sow doubt’ playbook.”
“It is abhorrent that the toxic salmon industry is literally suffocating the Maugean Skate and yet they have the gall to try and argue against a mountain of scientific advice from world-leading experts and scientists saying they are having a catastrophic impact. There is no limit to how far this industry will go to protect its profits.”
“Tasmanians, and Australians, must realise that this industry will never stop destroying the environment and killing native wildlife wherever they are operating. I call on all Australians to immediately stop buying salmon from Tasmania. Otherwise, you are knowingly participating in the extinction of the Maugean Skate.”
contact:
Alistair Allan
0432 352 329
