Super Trawler Sneaks into Australia
THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOLS’ DAY JOKE!
1 April 2015
A super trawler has sneaked into Australian waters and is tied up in Albany, Western Australia taking on supplies. This is no joke (although it is 1 April).
We understand the Dirk Dirk, aka Geelong Star, is refuelling after its trip out from Europe and may start fishing in the Australian small pelagic fishery as soon as the Easter weekend. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has hurriedly put together a so-called vessel management plan that it claims will protect recreational fisheries, vulnerable marine life such as seals, dolphins and seabirds, and the marine environment. It won’t.
“The vessel has arrived in Australia without notice, with its vessel monitoring transponder turned off, and will start fishing in secrecy”, says Rebecca Hubbard from the Stop the Trawler Alliance.
“This trawler is managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, and under the current policy, secrecy surrounding its operations means that we won’t know where or when it is fishing, or what it is catching”, says Nobby Clark of Tasmanian Game Fishing Sports Fishing Club.
“AFMA is not listening to recreational fishers. Nothing has significantly changed since they tried to bring in the last super trawler. There are no proven strategies to stop localised depletion destroying important recreational fisheries”, says John Edwards of the Tuna Club of Tasmania.
“Dolphins and fur seals will be killed in this fishery with no proper testing of the excluder device or an understanding of the impacts on their populations. There is no commitment to adequate ongoing video monitoring or observer coverage to ensure that these vulnerable populations are being protected. If AFMA is confident they are protecting dolphins and seals, they should be prepared to prove it”, says Jon Bryan from the Tasmanian Conservation Trust.
The company that manages the Dirk Dirk/Geelong Star seems to have a problem with following rules. “A skipper of one of their vessels was charged €105,000 in Ireland just a few days ago for illegal fishing.
This does not give us confidence that this company will operate responsibly in Australian waters,” concluded Ms Hubbard.
“They come to fish in Australia to help pay their fines at a cost to Australian recreational fishers. Tony Abbot should be ashamed!” concluded John Edwards.
Rebecca Hubbard, Environment Tasmania
Jon Bryan, Tasmanian Conservation Trust
John Edwards, Tuna Club of Tasmania
Nobby Clark, Tasmanian Game Fishing Sports Fishing Club
