For immediate release Thursday 1st October 2026
For the first time, Tas Government initiates process for considering
‘critical habitat’ listing for the Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour
Following years of pressure by conservation groups, the Tasmanian Government has
now commenced the process for considering a critical habitat listing for the Maugean
skate, marking the first time this provision of the Threatened Species Protection Act
1995 has ever been activated.
“We now have an important opportunity to use the powers available under
Tasmania’s threatened species legislation to respond to the scale and urgency of the
threat.” Jess Coughlan - Skate campaigner, Environment Tasmania
Environment Tasmania and the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) have welcomed the Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s (NRET)
commitment to progressing the process, as an important step towards strengthening protection for the Maugean skate and its habitat in Macquarie Harbour.
With more than 650 threatened species currently listed under Tasmania’s Threatened Species Protection Act 1995, critical habitat listing for an area has never previously been considered under the Act, nor have the criteria for listing been finalised, until now.
So far NRET has committed to:
● Publishing the finalised criteria for listing, as prepared by the scientific
advisory committee
● Finalising and publishing the process for critical habitat listing
● Holding a public consultation as part of the listing process
Environment Tasmania and EDO are now calling for the process to proceed as a
matter of urgency, with the Maugean skate facing heightened risks as Tasmania
heads towards summer and the potential impacts of El Nino conditions.
In early 2026, the two organisations formally applied to the Secretary of NRET,
Jason Jacobi, to initiate the critical habitat listing process. The secretary’s
determination is informed by advice from the Tasmanian Scientific Advisory
Committee.
Environment Tasmania campaigner, Jess Coughlan, said the commencement of the
process was an important development in the protection of the Maugean skate:
“We welcome the Department’s commitment to commencing this process and
recognising the potential role that critical habitat protection can play in conserving
the ancient Maugean skate and its unique habitat.”
“The next step is to ensure that the process moves quickly enough to provide
meaningful protection ahead of this summer, when changing environmental
conditions could place additional pressure on an already highly vulnerable
population.”
All comments attributed to Jess Coughlan,
Senior Skate Campaigner
Environment Tasmania
0431684741