More strife for super trawler

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority has been advised of four further dolphin mortalities from fishing by the Geelong Star, the vessel nominated by Seafish Tasmania Ltd to fish in the Small Pelagic Fishery.

The mortalities occurred in one shot during the vessel’s second trip. AFMA has also been advised of two fur seal mortalities during the vessel’s second trip.

This follows a similar number of marine mammal deaths on the super trawler's first foray into our Small Pelagic Fishery in April.

Consistent with the requirements of all vessels fishing in Commonwealth waters, the Geelong Star must report any interaction with protected species, including marine mammals like dolphins, fur seals or Australian sea lions.

AFMA says it takes any marine mammal mortalities seriously: "We are disappointed that these additional dolphin and seal mortalities have occurred," the authority said in a statement to the media.

The Geelong Star was voluntarily returning to port because of the dolphin mortalities for a full review of its marine mammal exclusion equipment. AFMA will participate in the review to determine how to minimise further marine mammal interactions.

The vessel will also be inspected by AFMA officers when it arrives in port to ensure all catch documentation is in order. This is a remarkably similar statement to the one issued after the super trawler killed two seals and four dolphins on its very first trip!

The Small Pelagic Fishery Industry Association said four more dolphins had been killed by the 95-metre vessel on Friday (May 1) as it was trawling in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery, a zone that  encompasses Tasmania.

Killing our protected marine mammals is a breach of Australian Fisheries Management Authority trawling regulations.

It is understood that on Saturday (May 2), Small Pelagic Fishery Industry Association chairman Grahame Turk said the trawler would remain docked in Geelong until a comprehensive plan was put in place to give stakeholders confidence that dolphin deaths could be avoided in future.

"The SPFIA shares the wider community’s distress at the death of dolphins," he said.

"These mortalities have been reported to AFMA as per the requirements of the vessel management plan."

Mr Turk said the deaths were most likely the result of onboard equipment malfunction.

However, Environment Tasmania spokeswoman Rebecca Hubbard believes it is only a matter of time before the vessel returns to south-east Australian waters: "We don’t consider this a win," she said.

"This is not the end of it. How many more animals have to die before the federal government takes action?"

In response to news of mammal mortality in the Small Pelagic Fishery the GFAA Conservation Officer, Dr Evan Jones reiterated his statement from the first round deaths:

"It is simply unacceptable to have these deaths occurring in an Australian commercial fishing operation," Dr Jones said.

"We are calling on Minister Hunt to use his powers to suspend all operations by the Geelong Star since the Australian Fisheries Management Authority has been proven to be powerless to prevent these deaths.

"We are calling on AFMA to publically release all observer reports, vessel operation reports, video footage and any other information about these mammal deaths.

"The vessel management plan is manifestly inadequate to have allowed this number of deaths to occur.

"The vessel must not be allowed to put to sea again until there has been a full public examination of these killings" Dr Jones said.