Media release – Business Alliance for the Maugean Skate, 19 March 2025
50 Tasmanian Businesses Rally for the Maugean Skate and call for removal of salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour to protect Tasmania’s brand
A groundswell of 50 Tasmanian owned and operated businesses have now joined the Business Alliance for the Maugean Skate – united in their mission to safeguard the state’s ‘Thylacine of the sea’ and protect Tasmania’s globally recognised bespoke and environmental brand.
“The Prime Minister and both sides of government aisles should take note,” Matt Testoni, representative of the Business Alliance for the Maugean Skate.
“These local Tassie businesses represent a spectrum of sectors including tourism, hospitality, retail and marine industries. From restaurants to boutique accommodation, designers, makers of bespoke produce, products and more. Importantly, they help to make up the backbone of Tasmania’s economy.”
Tasmania’s economy relies on around 43,000 tourism-hospitality related jobs or one in eight Tasmanians. The Tasmanian Government’s own Brand Tasmania research has found that locals, mainlanders and international visitors value Tasmania’s natural beauty, untouched wilderness and protecting the unusual. The same research warns that industry operations, including salmon farming, could negatively impact the Tasmanian brand and those who rely on it.
In contrast the salmon aquaculture industry employs less than 1% of Tasmania’s workforce. Freedom of Information documents, released yesterday, include a briefing to the Australian Environment Minister that states 20 people are employed in Strahan in offshore caged aquaculture.
It is also stated that salmon farming employment did not identify in the top five employment industries in nearby towns or at a regional level.
This growing coalition of businesses have engaged with the Australian Government, including Fisheries and Small Business Minister Julie Collins and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, calling for them to safeguard the Maugean skate by heeding the science and tackling salmon farming from Macquarie Harbour.
“Environment Tasmania is thrilled to see such strong support from the Tasmanian business community. Reaching 50 members demonstrates the growing recognition that businesses have a role to play in protecting our unique biodiversity and environment,” said Testoni.
Businesses interested in joining the alliance or learning more about its initiatives are encouraged to visit www.BAM.org.au
