Maugean Skate Captive Breeding Program Shows Promise
Researchers in Tasmania are working to conserve the endangered Maugean skate, whose population has been severely impacted by declining oxygen levels in its Macquarie Harbour habitat. The University of Tasmania's Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) has been running a captive breeding program since December 2022, and the first hatchling from an egg laid in captivity has successfully hatched.
The program has seen significant progress in a short period. An adult female skate brought into captivity in December has laid over 100 eggs, with around 70 showing embryos. The first healthy hatchling, a female, arrived on July 10th. While the captive male skate is not the father of this hatchling, the female is fertilizing her eggs with sperm stored from previous mating in Macquarie Harbour.
The program has also collected 50 eggs laid by wild Maugean skates. Two of the four adult skates brought into captivity along with the eggs died within weeks due to underlying conditions. However, this has led to improved screening capabilities for future captures.
While the captive breeding program is a positive step, further research is needed to determine the best way to reintroduce the Maugean skate to the wild. Macquarie Harbour is a unique habitat with naturally low oxygen levels, and the skates will need to be prepared for this environment.
The Tasmanian government's conservation action plan for the Maugean skate includes captive breeding as one of 35 actions. Another IMAS team is investigating remediation options for Macquarie Harbour, while a trial using an oxygenation "bubbler" is underway to improve oxygen levels.
Environmental groups are urging for urgent attention to address the root cause of the harbour's poor water quality, which they attribute to intensive salmon farming. The government maintains that the Maugean skate and the salmon industry can coexist, but environmental groups are calling for a review of fin fish farming operations in Macquarie Harbour.
The success of the captive breeding program offers hope for the future of the Maugean skate. Researchers are dedicated to helping this endangered species recover and are working towards finding the best way to reintroduce them to their natural habitat.