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NEWS
Super trawler MV Margiris banned for two years
‘SS Rape and Pillage' sent packingThe Dutch super trawler MV Margiris -- renamed FV Abel Tasman to irk Australians -- has been prevented from deploying its massive nets in our waters for at least two years.
The two-year ban gives the government agencies more time to garner further science about the deleterious effects of stripping baitfish, mammals and hapless marine life from our waters.
In an unholy alliance, anglers, environmental and lobby groups united to stage protests across the country and send a strong message to the Gillard government that super trawlers and their unsustainable fishing methods are not welcome here.
We have had a win!
Environment Minister Tony Burke and Fisheries Minister Joe Ludwig performed a backflip on their support for the super trawler in parliament today (September 11, 2012).
''If we get this wrong, there are risks to the environment, to commercial operators and to everyone who loves fishing and they are risks I am not prepared to take,'' Burke said.
''There has never been a fishing vessel of this capacity in Australia before and the [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act] needs to be updated so that it can deal with it.''
The 142-metre long Margiris was set to deploy its 600-metre long nets to catch 18,000 tonnes of jack mackerel and red bait anywhere from Queensland right around the bottom of Australia to WA.
These small baitfish are the cornerstone of the marine ecosystem and our game and sport fisheries.
The risk of localised depletions threatens coastal communities and those who enjoy Australia's favourite pastime -- recreational fishing.
It was revealed that the commerical fishing company behind the Margiris, Seafish Tasmania, has a member on the Australian Fishing Management Authority's approval committee. That is now part of the Commonwealth Ombudsman's investigation into the awarding of the permit.
It has also been stated that there is 2.5 times more fishing capacity in the world today than there are fish. The European Union will surely reconsider subsidising the global super-trawler fleet in future as its future is tenuous at best.
Super trawlers, including the Margiris, reduced jack mackerel stocks in the South Pacific by 90 per cent -- contrary to scientific predictions -- and since they started fishing off West Africa they reduced previous booming fish stocks to bust levels.
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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