The future of salmon farming in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour remains in limbo, with a decision on whether to increase the threatened species listing of the Maugean skate delayed until after the federal election.

The Maugean skate is only found in the harbour, which is on the island state's west coast. It shares the harbour with many salmon farms.

Low oxygen levels and poor water quality in the harbour have led to a sharp decline in the skate's population, with some scientists warning it is one extreme weather event from extinction.

The federal government was expected to receive advice on whether to change the skate's status from endangered to critically endangered by tomorrow, but the Threatened Species Scientific Committee requested a time extension.

The committee now has until October 30, 2025 to make its recommendations.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek warned last year that efforts to save the endangered Maugean skate, could temporarily halt salmon farming in the region.

The decision on whether to upgrade the endangered listing is separate to another decision yet to be made by the federal environment minister about the salmon farm leases.

Ms Plibersek is currently considering whether to review a 2012 approval to expand the salmon farms in the harbour.

The delay to the endangered status decision does not automatically change the time frame for a decision on the salmon farm leases, which could be made at any time.

Ms Plibersek has previously flagged the Labor government is "committed to a goal of no new extinctions".

Senator, 'big supporter' of salmon industry welcomes extension

Tasmanian Labor senator Anne Urquhart, who lives in the state's north-west, said she was a great supporter of the salmon industry but welcomed the extension.

"Labor is a great supporter of the Tasmanian salmon industry. I'm a big supporter of the Tasmanian salmon industry," Senator Urquhart told ABC Radio Hobart.

"Thousands of people across Tasmania and particularly regional Australia rely on this industry for good well-paid jobs and the industry delivers hundreds of millions of dollars to the economy of Tasmania, but we also know that the environment is really important for Tasmanian jobs too.

Environmental group the Bob Brown Foundation has condemned the delay, saying Ms Plibersek is playing "Russian roulette" with the Maugean skate.

"It should outrage everyone in Australia that this government is happy to condemn a species to possible extinction at the behest of massive multinational corporations," Alistair Allan, from the Bob Brown Foundation said.

"They will use this resource up. They will use Strahan up and they'll be out of there, so what I'm calling for is for the government and the salmon companies to recognise that they've pushed this ecosystem too far.

"It's a bad place to farm salmon and they need to justly transition their workers out of that area."

Push for salmon farm leases decision

Luke Martin, from Salmon Tasmania, said he was "frustrated but not surprised" by the delay.

Loading...

"There has now been a flood of scientific evidence presented to the Threatened Species Conservation Committee showing the situation for the skate is very different to some of the initial advice they had been reviewing," Mr Martin said.

"Macquarie Harbour is the healthiest it's been in over a decade and the captive breeding program is proving an early success."

Scientists from Tasmania's Environment Protection Authority recently reviewed the harbour's dissolved oxygen levels and found the median levels were the highest they have been in more than a decade.

Mr Martin said attention should now turn to the salmon farm lease review.

"Now the committee has asked for this 12-month extension, we expect Minister Plibersek to end the uncertainty for our industry, and make the right decision to end her drawn-out review of our industry's 2012 approvals to operate within the harbour," Mr Martin said.

"Salmon aquaculture and the Maugean skate will continue to co-exist in Macquarie Harbour, and Tasmanian lives and livelihoods should not be held in limbo any longer."

The mayor of West Coast Council, Shane Pitt, said today's decision would prolong uncertainty for salmon workers based in the region.

Cr Pitt recognised the federal government wanted to "make sure the decision is made right", but said the separate decision on the review of the Macquarie Harbour salmon leases shouldn't be delayed.

"Another Christmas goes by where families are uncertain of the future [and] what that holds for them. Children are worried about whether they're going to be back at school with their friends," he said.

When asked by the ABC whether he thought Minister Plibersek would make a decision on salmon farm leases before the status on the skate was known, Tasmanian Liberal Senator Jonathan Duniam replied "he would very much bank on Minister Plibersek and Federal Labor kicking this can down the road off the back of this [extension] request".

Strahan Aquaculture Community Forum chair Dianne Coon said she understood the frustration for industry workers but wanted the skate assessment process to be thorough.

"Some of the people I feel most sorry for in this process are the scientists, who are working really hard under a lot of pressure," Ms Coon said.

"I'm sure there will still be significant political pressure, but it's important that they get some time to do this right."

The ABC has contacted the chair of the committee for comment.

Loading...