Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Leader
With the Maugean skate on the brink of extinction, it's urgent the Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek listens to the science and intervenes to stop fish farming in Macquarie Harbour. We are concerned her proposal to undertake yet another review could spell disaster for this critically endangered species.
The science is indisputable - if fish farming in Macquarie Harbour is allowed to continue, this prehistoric species will be lost forever. Just one hot summer could push this species to extinction, and we cannot let this happen on our watch.
The multi-billion dollar multinational corporations who run this industry could not care less about their impact on the environment. After years of warning about the damaging impacts on the Maugean skate and World Heritage Area values of their operations in Macquarie Harbour, their response has been to continue business as usual.
While the industry’s PR machine is working overtime in the media trying to mislead Tasmanians about the scientific evidence, the actual experts who have been studying the demise of this endangered species are very clear that fish farming is the primary risk to its survival.
The State Liberal government and the federal minister's Tasmanian Labor colleagues want to see fish farming continue in Macquarie Harbour no matter the environmental cost. We urge Minister Plibersek to listen to the scientists instead, and step in before Christmas to save this precious, ancient species.