Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, 15 February 2025

A great day for Tasmanian salmon workers

Labor stands for safe, secure, well-paid jobs, and there is no stronger supporter of Tasmania’s salmon industry than the Labor Party.

On day one of my leadership, I went to Strahan to meet with salmon workers and reiterate my support for them and their families. I took a delegation to meet with the Federal Environment Minister last year to make their case and have publicly called on the Australian Labor Government to make a decision to support salmon workers and give them certainty.

Today the Prime Minister has done that.

Every conversation I have had with the Prime Minister has been positive. His announcement today is a testament to the compelling case put together by industry, workers and Tasmanian scientists who have made an irrefutable case that salmon farming and the maugean skate can co-exist.

This is a reminder that Labor stands for jobs. We are pro-worker and pro-regional communities.

Credit needs to go to Anne Urquhart who has relentlessly fought for west coast workers in Canberra throughout this. She has been the champion those workers needed.

Media release – Eric Abetz, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, 15 February 2025

Maugean skate and salmon can co-exist

Today’s announcement that the Maugean skate is showing positive signs in Macquarie Harbour has been welcomed by the Tasmanian Government.

Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, says this is a clear indicator that the skate and salmon can co-exist in Macquarie Harbour.

“When we undertake scientific research we don’t know what the outcome will be – it is independent and should always be so,” Minister Abetz said.

“Today’s news from reputable researchers is in complete contrast to the misinformation spread by the fear-for-profit brigade.

“We make no apologies for backing our world-class, sustainable salmon workers and now that we have the results, I would encourage Neighbours of Fish Farms and the Bob Brown Foundation to accept what the science is telling us and desist from spreading baseless misinformation.

“In their ongoing war against sustainably grown Tasmanian salmon, the Bob Brown Foundation have now started to bully independent, family-owned Tasmanian grocers. Make no mistake, they want to dictate what is on your plate and they will run through anyone to do it.

“Their fearmongering has come to the detriment of hard-working Tasmanians, a passionate and committed industry, world class scientists and the West Coast community and this needs to stop.

“Now we have this data in hand, the Federal Labor Government and Dean Winter must get themselves off the fence, show some backbone and support these terrific workers.

“Dean Winter and Federal Labor have no more excuses for continuing the devastating uncertainty that their inaction has inflicted on our west coast salmon workers, their families and their community.”

Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 15 February 2025

Fighting for Tasmania’s salmon industry

The Tasmanian Government has welcomed today’s announcement by the Prime Minister to recognise the science and commit to salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it is a positive step forward towards providing certainty for west coast salmon workers.

“I’ll never stop fighting for Tassie jobs” Premier Rockliff said.

“I won’t rest until salmon jobs are protected by law.

“We’ve stood side-by-side with industry and the west coast workers.

“While today is an important step, this could have been achieved long ago, and we will continue to do all we can to support our workers across all industries.

“Whether it be aquaculture, mining, forestry or manufacturing, only a Liberal Government will continue to back in the jobs and economic opportunities day in, day out.

“I’m proud of our west coast communities, who continue to show strength and unity in the face of adversity.”


Media release – Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), 15 February 2025

Maugean skate returns to levels not seen for a decade – but not out of the woods yet

Scientists have seen a recent upward trend in the relative abundance of Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour and it’s a potential sign that the wild population of this iconic endangered species has improved, with research catch rates returning to levels last seen in 2014.

Scientists at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) have been conducting dedicated monitoring of the Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour using research netting since 2021, building on previous monitoring programs from 2012 to 2019.

The new study released today has assessed the entire monitoring data set and confirmed that, while the number of skate caught per unit of netting effort (CPUE)* showed a substantial decline in relative abundance between 2014 and 2022, recent surveys indicate a significant increase from 2022.

“We are pleased to report that these current estimates are similar to 2014, with the timing of this trend aligning with improved environmental conditions in the harbour, particularly an increase in dissolved oxygen levels,” said IMAS researcher and lead author, Dr David Moreno.

“We found that the progression of juveniles to the adult population has shown a trend of year-on-year improvements up to at least 2019. Meanwhile, the capture of young individuals in 2022 and 2023 suggests there was some hatching success until at least 2020/21.

“But these levels have not yet returned to the pre-2009 rate of juveniles contributing to the population,” he said.

IMAS Maugean Skate Research Program leader and co-author, Professor Jayson Semmens said the recent upward trend in the relative abundance and capture of young individuals following a prolonged period of decline is a positive sign for the Maugean skate population.

“While we are cautiously optimistic, there is still a long way to go. Only continued monitoring of the Maugean skate population in Macquarie Harbour will allow us to know the long-term trajectory of recovery of this endangered species,” he said.

IMAS Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre Head and co-author, Professor Sean Tracey said IMAS acknowledges the valuable support from the Tasmanian Government to date for research on the Maugean skate in the Harbour, which underpins the recovery strategy for the species, and also welcomes the significant financial contribution announced by the Federal Government in late 2024.

“Robust science is the cornerstone of building evidence-based conservation action plans that will help to put the Maugean skate on a sustained pathway to recovery,” Professor Tracey said.

“Together with ongoing support from the Tasmanian Government, this funding will boost the Maugean skate recovery program and make increasing our research and knowledge of the wild population in the Harbour possible.

“The funding support from both the Tasmanian and Federal governments will advance research into the important next phase – securing the ongoing success of the captive breeding program, building a deeper understanding of how skate use the harbour and react to environmental variability, and developing more robust population estimates.

“This work is critical to rebuilding the wild population of this endangered species,” he said.

The 2021–2024 study was supported with funding from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) and from the University of Tasmania, including through the Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration Agreement (SMRCA). The 2012–2018 study was funded by the Australian Government’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and NRE Tas through the SMRCA. Monitoring funding from 2021has been provided by NRE Tas.

 * Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) is a measure of relative abundance, which is a standard proxy for total abundance.

Media release – Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), 15 February 2025

Slight uptick in Maugean skate estimates not enough to save them from extinction, especially in another extreme weather event

A slight improvement in the precarious Maugean skate population estimates will not save the skate from extinction, especially if there’s another extreme weather event in its only home, Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, in the next 10 years, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) said after a new report from the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) was released today.

In 2019 an upturning event wiped out half the Maugean skate population in Macquarie Harbour. Oxygen-depleted water, caused primarily by intensive salmon farming, rose up from the depths of the harbour, choking skates in their habitat. While salmon farming continues unabated despite scientific recommendations to reduce it, there are fears another storm event will wipe out another half of the current population and lead to extinction.

The IMAS report describes trends in estimated Maugean skate numbers between 2014 and 2024, based on the ‘catchability’ of skates using a consistent approach to surveying over the years, with a revised population estimate of 4,102. Although the report indicates that the relative estimate of skate numbers in 2024 compared with previous years is around 2014 levels, the authors state that the “Maugean skate population is still at low levels and potentially subject to major environmental events leading to mortality, as inferred in 2019.”

AMCS shark expert Dr Leonardo Guida said: “The new report shows a strong correlation between increased salmon farming intensity and a drop in estimated Maugean skate numbers. That’s not surprising since we know salmon farming has dramatically depleted the oxygen levels in the Maugean skate’s only home, Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour. The fate of the skate literally rises and falls alongside salmon production.

“Salmon stocks in the harbour have dropped from their peak in 2015 at about 20,000 tonnes – the equivalent weight of about 10,000 four-wheel drives – yet we are only seeing a slight rise in Maugean skate estimates a decade later.

“The skates caught in 2024 were mostly old adults that will not be around much longer given they live to around 10-12 years, and there hasn’t been enough time to show that the uptick is solely from juveniles surviving to breeding age. The scientists acknowledge huge uncertainty in the data from animals caught in 2023 and 2024 that shows something has happened that’s making the skates easier to catch. Without knowing exactly what happened, we’re unfortunately no longer comparing apples with apples from previous years.

“What is abundantly clear is that reducing salmon in the harbour is good for the skate. Tragically, salmon stocks have not dropped enough nor quick enough, and the foreign food giants who own the salmon farms have not shown any willingness to cut salmon numbers since the plight of the Maugean skate came to light. These multinational food conglomerates need to ensure they are operating sustainably to secure the long-term future of their workers.

“Maugean skate numbers have not improved enough for the population to survive another extreme weather event in Macquarie Harbour, whose narrow, shallow entry to the sea makes these events likely. An upturning of deep, oxygen-depleted waters caused by storms in 2019 contributed to wiping out half the Maugean skate population, and oxygen levels where the skate lives, particularly in the World Heritage Area, have not improved much despite a giant soda machine trying to inject oxygen bubbles into the water.

“Millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money are being used to trial oxygen pumping into the harbour’s water, but it’s a long way off proving it can restore oxygen levels. The skate has been nothing short of lucky with the past three years of natural injections of fresh oxygen-rich seawater into the harbour.

“Pumping oxygen into the water alone is not enough to repair the damage already done by at least  decade’s worth of industrialised salmon farming and more than 100,000 tonnes of salmon defecating in the harbour.

“With the endangered Maugean skate struggling to survive in its only home, Tasmania is on the brink of having its highest profile extinction since it drove the Tassie tiger off the planet. Tasmanian produce trades on the state’s reputation for its relatively pristine and wild natural areas, and another extinction would heavily damage that reputation.”

Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 15 February 2025

Prime Minister Albanese rules for corporations not the environment we depend on

Fish farms remain a catastrophic impact on Maugean skate population and its chances of survival despite today’s revelations.

Today’s announcement of increased Maugean skate population is welcomed but fish farms must still be removed from Macquarie Harbour if the species is to have any chance of long-term survival.

Bob Brown Foundation is very concerned Prime Minister Albanese has announced his intention to introduce legislation to protect the toxic polluting salmon industry and not the environment.

“The news of increased Maugean skate population represents the Federal Governments best chance to save the Maugean skate from extinction,” said Alistair Allan, Bob Brown Foundation’s marine campaigner.

“Our Federal environment department concluded that salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour have a catastrophic impact on the survival of the Maugean skate. PM Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek can act now, and seize this opportunity to rescue the Maugean skate,” said Alistair Allan

“If the population of white rhinos suddenly went up, would that be a signal to let poachers back in? No. It would be rightfully seen as the moment to protect those rhinos at all costs.”

“Australians everywhere want action and leadership taken to protect Australia’s environment and wildlife, which could only serve the PM well so close to an election.”

“The new report suggests that the increase coincides with improved oxygen levels, that we know came from a naturally occurring ocean recharge event. This was a lifeline extended to the Maugean skate by nature and has very little to do with any of the oxygenation barges. Every day that fish farms remain in Macquarie Harbour has a catastrophic impact.”

“It would be unconscionable to let this moment pass by and allow an animal as old as the dinosaurs to disappear from Earth forever,” said Alistair Allan.

Media release – Peter George, independent candidate for the Federal seat of Franklin, 15 February 2025

It’s all about donors and votes as PM abandons ‘No new extinctions’

Peter George, independent candidate for the Federal seat of Franklin, accuses Prime Minister Albanese of abandoning Labor’s commitment to ‘no new extinctions’ in a desperate attempt to hold on to Tasmanian seats in the Federal election.

“The future of the endangered Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour is being driven by politics rather than commonsense and science.

“Prime Minister Albanese’s promise to ensure salmon feedlots continue in the waterway is an utterly transparent attempt to appease the industry lobby while hoping to win the extra votes he desperately needs in the Federal election.

“It’s outrageous he’s promising to rewrite national environmental laws simply to protect the operations of rapacious multinational salmon barons who don’t even pay tax in Australia.

“How much is this industry contributing to Labor Party coffers? If their industry’s as sustainable as it claims, it shouldn’t need protection.

“It’s all about donors and votes and nothing about the health of Macquarie Harbour, Labor’s commitment to no new extinctions or of protecting our state’s natural wonders.

“Any sensible reading of the scientific guidance shows Mr Albanese has taken cautious advice from scientists about Maugean skate numbers in Macquarie Harbour and turned it into a disgraceful vote-winning exercise.

“Next Liberal leader, Peter Dutton, will step up and make even more outrageous promises.

“Both Labor and Liberal parties in Tasmania have jumped on the bandwagon with their usual abandonment of Tasmanians in favour of the big donors.”

Neighbours of Fish Farming, 15 February 2025

Announcement on Macquarie Harbour by Prime Minister a hollow promise

The Prime Minister’s announcement in today’s Mercury to change environmental legislation in favour of industrial activity will not be possible to deliver before a new Government is formed.

“To alter environmental legislation designed to protect nature, and weaken the EPBC Act, is a calculating promise to buy Tasmanian votes, not just in Macquarie Harbour, but all areas impacted by salmon farming and extractive industry” says Jessica Coughlan, Campaigner at Neighbours of Fish Farming.

“The PM has already pledged a $21million subsidy in tax payer dollars for an oxygenation program for salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour that lost over 1100 tonnes of fish to disease and warming waters last summer. We anticipate the numbers to be at least repeated this year.”

“This industry is not operating sustainably, and the Australian public should be
outraged at the subsidies, and the promise to weaken environmental laws to placate the foreign-owned salmon companies. The same companies that have not paid any corporate tax in the past 4 years.”

“West coast and all Tasmanians should be sceptical of any promises made before an election. Funding and legislation for workforce transition— the best long-term
investment—should be the priority for the next Australian Government.”


Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 15 February 2025

Albanese weaponises report to secure votes and seal the fate of the skate

In a shameless attempt to secure votes in Tasmania, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cosied up to salmon foreign corporates and promised to hasten the extinction of the Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour. Albanese has pledged to override already weak federal environmental laws to look after the profits multinational corporations.

A new IMAS report on the state of the Maugean skate calls for ongoing monitoring of the critically endangered species. The report suggests Maugean skate numbers are beginning to recover after a likely mass mortality event in 2019, but also repeatedly says it is incorrect to conclude the skate population is higher now than in 2014.

It’s scandalous Prime Minister Albanese has weaponised this report to justify overriding federal environmental laws, and shows his disdain for the evidence-based management of a critically endangered species.

The scientific advice sitting on Tanya Plibersek’s desk is clear. The fastest and best way to improve the health of Macquarie Harbour and save the Maugean skate is to remove industrial fish farms. The industry’s proposal to do extra monitoring, run diesel-fuelled oxygen bubblers or captive breeding programs will make no substantial difference to the massive pressure on harbour health every day coming from salmon pollution.

Earth’s climate is heating fast. The waters of Macquarie Harbour will continue to get hotter, and we need to do everything we can to protect the iconic endangered Maugean skate. Salmon farming must end in Macquarie Harbour and go on-land to ensure the future of the skate.

The Liberal and Labor politicians, state and federal, are locked on to protecting the interests of foreign salmon corporates. Tasmanian communities won’t stand for the privatisation and degradation of our beautiful waterways by big foreign corporates. Only the Greens are fighting to protect the Maugean skate and our special marine environment.

Media release – Greens Senators Nick McKim and Sarah Hanson-Young, 15 February 2025

PM a ‘sell out’ to toxic salmon industry: Greens

The Greens have slammed the Prime Minister’s announcement today that he will cave in to the Tasmanian salmon industry by weakening Australia’s environment laws if re-elected. The Greens will stand up for the environment and community this election against vested interests.

Nick McKim is Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania:

“Labor has backed in the profits of foreign salmon-farming corporations over Tasmania’s environment and the survival of the Maugean skate.

“Australia’s environment laws are already too weak. To water them down even further to underpin corporate profits is an outrage and a betrayal.

“The Greens will fight any attempt to erode the protection of Australia’s environment with everything we’ve got.

“This will play very badly for Labor at the election, because right around the state Tasmanian communities are fighting to defend their coastlines from pollution and privatisation by industrial salmon farms.

“Tasmanians have always voted for the environment, and will do so in even larger numbers after this shocking environmental sellout.”

Australian Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“The Prime Minister has bulldozed environment laws and his Environment Minister, again. Last week it was caving in to the fossil fuel industry, today it’s the multinational salmon corporations.

“It is clearer than ever that Labor is too weak to stand up to vested interests and protect the environment and native species. They simply can’t be trusted to do the right thing, by the law or by nature.

“Instead of applying the law, the Prime Minister has told industry he will change the rules to suit them at the expense of the community and the environment. This is not leadership, this is a weak capitulation.

“Whether it’s protecting our marine ecosystems, native forests or koalas, neither Labor or Mr Dutton can be trusted – they will sell out to the corporations every time. Only the Greens in balance of power can save our native species and force Labor to act.”

Media release – The Australia Institute Tasmania, 15 February 2025

Something fishy about PM’s reported pledge to salmon industry

There are reports today that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to the Tasmanian salmon industry, assuring its future in Macquarie Harbour.

No such letter has been sent to others in the local and broader community, ensuring the safety of the endangered Maugean skate, the health of the harbour, the tourism industry or recreational fishing.

If legislation, reportedly proposed by the PM, does not take in to account a long-awaited review of the damage being wreaked upon Macquarie Harbour, it could undermine Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s commitment to no extinctions under her watch.

One third of the harbour is World Heritage listed and the only home of the endangered Maugean skate, recognised for its world heritage values, which date back to the dinosaur era.

Scientific evidence shows salmon farming operations in the harbour are ‘almost certain’ to be “catastrophic” for the skate.

“Special legislation for foreign-owned companies that is likely to condemn the Maugean skate to extinction should not be rushed through in the dying days of this government,” said Eloise Carr, Director of The Australia Institute Tasmania.

“If the reports are true, the Prime Minister is willing to introduce special new laws that will protect companies which employ only a handful of Australians and send the profits overseas.

“Introducing special legislation to protect the salmon industry would be highly unorthodox. It raises concerns that science could be ignored and due process undermined.

“The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies report, which is reportedly referenced in the PM’s letter to the salmon industry, does not green light the salmon industry. The science is crystal clear that fish farming reduces oxygen in the water that has led to demise of the skate and is harming the World Heritage Area.

“The Threatened Species Scientific Committee has recommended removing or significantly reducing farmed fish as the highest priority, most urgent action to prevent the extinction of the skate.

“I am looking forward to talking to the north-west community a public forum tomorrow.”

Media release – independent MHR for Clark, 17 February 2025

PM wading into the salmon industry to hook more votes

Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, today slammed the Prime Minister’s promise to guarantee the future of salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.

“The latest flaccid announcement by the Prime Minister highlights the ongoing problem we have with the Labor and Liberal parties’ shameful interest in chasing votes rather than actually providing good governance based on hard scientific evidence,” Mr Wilkie said.

“There are numerous environmental issues that need to be addressed by the salmon industry, not simply the endangerment of the Maugean skate, and there are solutions that the government should be taking the lead on. No industry should be exempt from its environmental responsibilities, and for the Government and Opposition to be prepared to jeopardise Tasmania’s pristine environment and our tourism industry for the sake of a few votes is reprehensible.”