New advice from the Australian Threatened Species Scientific Committee about the Maugean skate could not be any clearer – industrial fish farming in Macquarie Harbour is driving this ancient species towards extinction, and urgent action must be taken.
The multinational corporations running the Tasmanian industry will never admit their role in pushing the Maugean skate to the brink, but the evidence from this highly respected and independent scientific body is clear. For the skate to have any chance of surviving, we must tackle the issue of industrial fish farming in Macquarie Harbour head-on.
To give the skate a fighting chance, we have to end fish farming in Macquarie Harbour for good. A captive breeding program is pointless if there’s nowhere safe to release these unique animals back into the wild.
We recognise the impact on workers and the Strahan community if removing these fish farms was not accompanied with proper leadership, workforce planning, and support from the government. That’s why earlier this year we released a transition plan that guarantees all 60 local workers in the fish farm industry have a job going forward. I’m pleased to be on the West Coast today talking to stakeholders about this plan.
If the Federal Minister for the Environment wants to make sure there’s no extinctions on her watch, she needs to act urgently on Macquarie Harbour fish farms. And if that happens, the government needs to be prepared to support the Strahan community by making sure every worker has a new job – at the same or better rate of pay – going forward.
