First baby Maugean skate hatches in captivity

In a world first for the captive Maugean Skate breeding program, a baby Maugean skate has been hatched from eggs laid in captivity right here in Tasmania.

Minister for Parks and Environment, Nick Duigan, said the exciting development occurred at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies facility at Taroona.

“The juvenile skate hatched from an egg laid by a female skate collected from Macquarie Harbour in December last year,” Minister Duigan said.

“This represents an important milestone towards the development of a captive breeding program, established as one of a range of measures to protect the endangered Maugean skate.”

In addition to taking a lead on developing a captive program, IMAS is also undertaking monitoring and extensive research to help conserve this unique species with funding from the Australian Government and $4 million from the Tasmanian Government.

“This includes funding for important monitoring and research as well as substantial contributions for the captive breeding techniques," Minister Duigan said.

“The Tasmanian Government is the strongest supporter of our world class salmon industry and we recognise the significant economic contribution aquaculture makes to our economy.

“Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future backs our world-class salmon industry and the thousands of jobs it underpins in our regions which is why we are investing in a range of actions to improve management of the Macquarie Habour ecosystem, while reducing threats to the Maugean Skate.

“It is encouraging to see this positive progress towards a captive breeding program, demonstrating that the work being undertaken by IMAS is working.

“The captive breeding program’s early success and the great research which surrounds it, further adds to the protection of this important species now and into the future."

Captive breeding is one of more than 35 actions detailed in the Tasmanian Government’s Conservation Action Plan for the Maugean skate and overseen by the National Recovery Team.