Members of the Tasmanian community along with Indigenous, NGO and business representatives are headed for Canberra on Monday 23rd on a mission to save the ancient Endangered Maugean Skate with a strong message to Australia’s Parliament: Follow the science, protect world heritage and remove salmon farming pollution from Macquarie Harbour.
A film about the Maugean Skate will be screened at Parliament Theatre on Monday 23rd March to an audience of MPs and their staff at 6pm, followed by a press conference on Parliament lawns at 10.30am on Tuesday Morning, 24th March.
The findings of a recent CSIRO survey show a broad, rapid decline in support for the salmon industry and concern over the industry’s harmful impact on Tasmania’s waters.
Extinction is Bad for Business, and the Tasmanian Brand With the support of over 50 Tasmanian businesses, the cohort are urging Environment Minister Murray Watt to take action to save the skate. These businesses are concerned about the impact to the Tasmanian economy and brand associated with the skate’s extinction saga.
“The rapid decline in public support for the multinational salmon industry operating in Tasmania’s waterways is only sharpening, and action on preserving the world heritage area and the Endangered Maugean Skate needs to be taken. The government’s own conservation advice was updated last month and remains as strong as ever: Remove salmon biomass from Macquarie Harbour within 12 months. Just days ago the Tasmanian government announced its intention to extend salmon farming licenses for up to 10 years - which could be a death sentence for the skate. Federal intervention is urgently needed to safeguard the skate, the Tasmanian brand and all the Tassie businesses that rely on it.” Jess Coughlan, Senior campaigner at Environment Tasmania.
Tasmanian Indigenous leader, Lyndon O’Neil, “I’m hopeful that the Maugean Skate will become better known, and loved by all Australians, as an Ancient Dinosaur that has lived and thrived in Tasmania for over 65 Million years, until its recent threat from people mismanaging themselves in its home, has bought it to the verge of extinction.”
“Environment Department advice recently confirmed, fish farming is having a significant impact on Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. This means the Australian Government is failing to meet its obligations and we will take this to the World Heritage Committee,” said Eloise Carr, Ocean and public policy advisor.
Dr Leonardo Guida, shark scientist and conservation lead at the Australian Marine Conservation Society said, "This isn’t just about saving the skate, it’s about saving the natural heritage of Tasmania on which so many primary producers and tourism industries rely. An immediate step in the right direction is for Minister Watt to register Macquarie Harbour as a critical habitat under Australian nature laws.”
Comments attributed to: Jess Coughlan Campaigner at Environment Tasmania [email protected] 0431684741, Eloise Carr Ocean Policy Expert [email protected] 0414704709, Dr Leonardo Guida Shark and Ray expert at Australian Marine Conservation Society [email protected] 0400896567, Lyndon O’Neil Tasmanian Indigenous Leader 0408386347