The Maugean skate, a prehistoric ray species, is facing a dire threat from salmon farming, according to Commonwealth advice. This advice highlights the devastating impact of industrial aquaculture on the skate's habitat, particularly in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania. The skate's survival is intricately linked to dissolved oxygen levels, and the organic carbon released by salmon farms poses a significant challenge. The Commonwealth's Threatened Species Scientific Committee has consistently pointed to salmon farming as the primary driver of habitat stress for the skate, with a risk matrix clearly indicating the potential for 'catastrophic consequences'. Despite some mitigation measures, the skate's future remains uncertain. The committee's advice emphasizes the need for immediate action, such as reducing the amount of salmon being farmed in the next 12 months, to eliminate or significantly reduce the impacts of salmonid aquaculture on dissolved oxygen concentrations. This recommendation has been supported by the industry 'champion', Anne Urquhart, who has campaigned heavily on protecting salmon farm jobs. However, the Environment Minister, Murray Watt, has decided not to elevate the skate's status to critically endangered, citing the need to follow the science and the advice of independent scientific experts. The question remains whether this decision will include the reduced fish biomass advice, and whether the reoxygenation program will prove feasible and scalable to improve oxygen levels in the harbour and conserve the Maugean skate.
