New research from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies has revealed that the Maugean skate population in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour, in Australia, has stabilized.

The number of juveniles has now matched levels seen a decade ago. According to the study, the population has held steady since 2021, marking an important milestone in conservation efforts.

Luke Martin -- CEO of aquaculture industry body Salmon Tasmania --  welcomed the findings, alongside reports from the Environmental Protection Authority indicating that water conditions in the harbor have significantly improved to their best state in over a decade.

At the end of October, shareholders at Australian retailer Woolworths will vote to decide if the chain will stop sourcing farmed salmon from Macquarie Harbour; an action conservationists say is needed to give the Maugean skate its only chance at survival.

Scientists advising the Australian government have recommended a dramatic scaling back or complete removal of the salmon farming industry from the harbor to prevent the extinction of the Maugean skate

Martin emphasized the importance of basing regulatory decisions on scientific data, warning against political interference in response to activism. He noted the salmon industry's investment in skate research and highlighted the success of adaptive management strategies in the harbor, allowing the skate and the industry to thrive.

He also called for other stakeholders, including Hydro Tasmania, to share responsibility for the harbor’s long-term management, arguing there is no need to close down salmon aquaculture to protect the skate.