Rare species risk probed
AN endangered species at the centre of a court battle involving feuding fish farm companies and government will now be tagged to assess its vulnerability to degraded environmental conditions in Macquarie Harbour.
The University of Tasmania will investigate the impact of dissolved oxygen on the Maugean skate, with its findings potentially feeding into the legal stoush.
Huon Aquaculture has launched Federal Court action against state and federal governments and the Environment Protection Authority over the state of the harbour, claiming their inaction could have had a significant impact on the endangered skate.
Huon Aquaculture fish performance general manager Steve Percival said the company welcomed the research “and had invested in it.’’
“It would be a sad day if we observed the skate become extinct through this research project because both government and industry failed to act quickly and strongly to save it by reducing pressure on the waterway,’’ Dr Percival said.
“The research is important but we believe that conservative management measures should be put in place now to protect the skate.’’
UTAS plans to tag 30 skates and use 33 eggs for laboratory experiments to assess the impact of dissolved oxygen levels on skate embryos.
“Recently, the increased input of organic waste associated with the expansion of marine farming has been implicated in reducing dissolved oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbour,’’ the University of Tasmania noted in its research application Vulnerability of the Endangered Maugean skate population to degraded environmental conditions in Macquarie Harbour.
“This study aims to understand the tolerance and responses of the skate to low dissolved oxygen levels from the embryonic to the adult stage to assess the implications of changing environmental conditions on the future wellbeing of the population.
“Furthermore, the ability to monitor the status of the population by tracking its size composition through fishing surveys is critical to assess its future viability.
“The Maugean skate has only been found in Macquarie and Bathurst harbours ... making it particularly vulnerable to human impacts.’’
A Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment spokesman said it had this week approved the University of Tasmania research, given it would further overall understanding of the skate and assist its ongoing survival.
The research, which is also being partly funded by aquaculture companies Tassal and Petuna, will be conducted in the Table Head and Liberty Point areas.