Geelong Star catches whale shark

On February 11, 2016, the controversial fishing vessel Geelong Star had an interaction with a whale shark while fishing in the Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF). The Australian Fish Management Authority (AFMA) has now reviewed the video footage from the vessel’s electronic monitoring system of the interaction.

AFMA says the video footage is consistent with the report received by it on February 12, 2016 from AFMA’s on-board scientific observer.

However, this recent declaration is at odds with lobby groups and those with vested interests who have been defending the controversial factory trawler.

Now we know the shark was landed on deck. The terrible news will surely incite further hatred among fishers and environmentalist for this brazen operation that's killed seals, dolphins and albatross and, possibly, at least one whale shark to date.

AFMA says the video footage shows that the whale shark spent no more than four minutes out of the water. That is, the time from the animal being brought onto the boat, freed and being released back into the water was estimated to be 3min 35sec. Did it live?

Certainly, a fish of this size isn't meant to be out of the water and on deck supporting that amount of weight and pressure on its organs. And how long was it readied to be craned aboard and then lowered? Was it picked up by the tail?

There are lots of questions about the chances of survival of this whale shark post release, best handling practices, best release methods, in-water or out of it, and the deleterious effects and added stress that can impact on large fish that are lifted out of the water.

What we know for sure is that the admission of a landing contradicts earlier reports that the factory ship veered away from the animal; that the animal was caught in the nets and its fins released while in the water; and at the very least AFMA and the Geelong Star operators haven't been forthcoming with the truth.

The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) has called for
greater transparency and disclosure of the fishing operations of the Geelong Star after
these conflicting accounts about the recent interaction between the vessel and a
whale shark near Eden.

Whale sharks are a protected species under the
Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora
and Fauna (CITES).

Allan Hansard, Managing Director of ARFF said
that, in response to media inquiries, AFMA  confirmed the interaction
with the whale shark and that "two fins were entangled in the outside of
the net. Once freed, the shark swam away unharmed."

The Small
Pelagic Fisheries Industry Association (SPFIA), on its Facebook page stated,
"a whale shark had come alongside the net, the vessel maneuvered away
and the whale shark had swum off unharmed."

Other unconfirmed
reports in the media were that the whale shark was caught in the net and
once freed with mechanical assistance it floated away.

Now we know these were untruths and the shark was landed on deck and out of the water for more than 3.5 minutes. And the only way it could be landed on deck is with giant winches.

Of course, monitoring of by-catch is a central component of all fisheries management. AFMA says it should be noted its monitoring of the Geelong Star far exceeds that of any other Australian fishery, commercial or recreational. But by golly it needs to...

Electronic monitoring (cameras) is used to verify logbook and other reporting regarding the catch of target species and protected species interactions.  

AFMA does not release electronic monitoring footage from commercial fishing vessels because it contains commercial-in-confidence and private information about companies and crews.

All interactions with protected species from the Commonwealth’s 300 plus fishing fleet are reported quarterly on AFMA’s website. Records of Commonwealth fishing vessel interactions with whale sharks are extremely rare.

However, the Geelong Star's report card is just appalling. It's a repeat offender. The factory ship is discrediting Australia's global reputation for sound fisheries management and good governance. The Australian public and our 5 million rec fishers are losing faith in AFMA and the destruction and by-catch from this unwanted and much-hated death ship needs to stop.