A two-day workshop has brought together diverse stakeholders with a vested interest in protecting the endangered Maugean skate in Tasmania.
Hosted by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the workshop is taking a proactive approach to identify practical short-term solutions for protecting the Maugean skate as well as medium and long term strategies.
The Maugean skate is listed as endangered under Tasmania’s Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Recent monitoring efforts have indicated a significant decline in the Maugean skate population, raising concerns about the species’ heightened risk of extinction.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change said the Rockliff Liberal Government provides substantial funding and in-kind support for research into the Maugean skate.
“We are taking action to protect the Maugean skate, including changing gillnetting regulations and supporting an initial pilot study on captive breeding techniques.
“We are also actively engaging with key stakeholders on a range of proactive and precautionary actions to minimise threats to the Maugean skate, identify research and monitoring priorities, and determine short and long-term management and conservation actions needed to recover the skate.”
Outcomes of this week’s workshop will inform the Conservation Action Plan and Conservation Advice which is the primary mechanism for ongoing conservation action.
The Action Plan is expected to be finalised towards the end of the year.
