An extraordinary warning from some of the nation’s foremost marine scientists about the plight of the endangered Maugean skate has left Minister Plibersek with nowhere to hide.
For years scientists have sounded the alarm on the toxic impacts of Atlantic salmon farming in the Maugean skate’s last known habitat of Macquarie Harbour – and now over 250 days have passed since the Minister was compelled to make a decision on the fate of the industry operating there.
It’s time the Minister made a decision: will she do her job as Environment Minister and protect the Maugean skate, or will she cave to the Atlantic salmon farming industry?
Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:
“The toxic Atlantic salmon farming industry has been frantically trying to undermine existing scientific conservation advice regarding the skate – but enough is enough.
“Today’s bold statement from scientists sends a powerful message to the Environment Minister: will she do her job and protect the skate or cave to the vested interests of powerful and greedy corporations?
“The writing is on the wall for the Atlantic salmon industry: it has no future in Tasmania.
“Warming oceans from climate change is the single biggest threat to this toxic industry, and shocking new data revealing the volume of dead fish removed from the skate’s last remaining home in Macquarie Harbour proves this point.
“Fish farming mortalities will only get worse with climate change, so why are we risking the extinction of the endangered skate when this industry itself is surely facing extinction?
“The survival of the Maugean skate is a political decision. Minister Plibersek has the power to act and she needs to listen to these eminent scientists, not the spin from a profit driven, self-interested Atlantic salmon farming industry”.