A new purpose-built facility at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) marks a major step in conservation efforts to protect the Maugean Skate.
Located at Taroona, the new facility is affectionately known as the ‘Skate Park’ and supports the captive management program as part of the Tasmanian Government’s Conservation Action Plan.
“This is an incredibly important facility,” IMAS Maugean Skate Research Program Leader, Professor Jayson Semmens said.
“Our animals are growing very quickly and maturing a lot faster than what we thought, and we need to be able to house them as they go through these changes."
“We have over 100 hatchlings now from both captive-laid and wild eggs, but the wild laid egg animals are the oldest. They're approaching two years old and they're getting to a size we needed a big facility and that's where this one comes in.”
The new facility forms part of the University of Tasmania upgrades at Taroona to increase the Institute’s research capability, enhance its learning programs and improve student, staff and community accessibility.
“It's a bespoke facility – it's been designed specifically for this purpose,” said Professor Sean Tracey, Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre Head at IMAS Taroona.
Professor Semmens said the facility has very large tanks the size of lap pools with each system having about 30 tons of capacity.
"It has high-quality filtration systems, and everything is designed to make sure we're giving these skates the best chance of growing, thriving, and eventually being able to be released into the wild, which is the ultimate aim of the program."
“We now have a whole scale of tanks ranging from very small for new hatchlings through to the largest tanks capable of housing mature individuals,” he said.
Professor Semmens said accessibility was a key focus in the design of the facility.
“The larger tanks include space and turnaround points for wheelchair users, with camera systems and screens allowing for viewing the skates. Smaller tanks feature viewing windows positioned at wheelchair height.”
After 25 years at the University, Professor Semmens said working on the Maugean Skate program has been a labour of love.
“If you'd asked me two years ago where we would be, I would never have imagined this,” he said.
“We've made a really solid start. Now the focus is moving closer to the natural environment in how we hold these animals which is really important for their future and preparing them for eventual release.”
The new facility was funded by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas). Monitoring funding for the Maugean Skate from 2021 has been provided by NRE Tas.
The Australian Government has committed $37.5 million for the recovery of the Maugean skate since 2021, including support for the captive skates held at Taroona.
Cover image: Maugean skate
Credit: Jane Ruckert IMAS