24 September 2024
Research undertaken by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) pointing to an increased presence of young Maugean skates within Macquarie Harbour has foiled any further excuses for the Federal Labor Government to shut down salmon industry operations in Tasmania.
The study undertaken by IMAS bucks the narrative spread by extreme environmental activists. It is a resounding endorsement of Tasmania’s salmon industry and their world-leading conservation and sustainability efforts to both protect the skate and ensure that the over $1 billion industry can continue to grow and employ Tasmanians.
The research was welcomed by Federal Shadow Environment, Fisheries and Forestry Minister and Tasmanian Senator Jonno Duniam:
“This is a good news story. It is proof positive that the Maugean skate and salmon farming can exist side by side. Every Tasmanian, especially salmon industry workers across the supply chain, want to see the skate survive and thrive.”
“The alarmist rhetoric from extreme environmental activist groups with their mainland scare campaigns is based on ideology. I urge all Australians interested in the facts to read the study undertaken by IMAS and reach their own conclusions, not ones by Greens-aligned groups like the Australia Institute who purely want to see a shutdown of this industry, no matter the cost to the livelihoods and wellbeing of Tasmanians.”
Senator Duniam warned that the Federal Government must not take drastic steps that would lead to jobs disappearing on the West Coast of Tasmania because of political considerations:
“We know that Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is looking for any reason to shut down this industry to appease Greens voters in her inner-Sydney electorate,” Senator Duniam said.
This follows the Coalition’s position that it will defend Tasmania’s salmon industry:
“No matter what happens, the Coalition will protect West Coast jobs from the Labor Government. We will protect workers on the ground in Strahan, logistics workers in Devonport, suppliers, any worker or family that relies on this industry. The same cannot be said of the Labor Government who are leaving Tasmanian families and communities in limbo.”