Two Fishing Trips, Two Dolphin Kills. The Geelong Star Must be Stopped Now!

The Stop the Trawler Alliance re-stated it’s opposition to the operation of large freezer factory trawlers following the announcement that the second fishing trip of the Geelong Star has resulted in the deaths of four more dolphins and two fur seals.

The Geelong Star was recently given permission to operate in Australian waters in the small pelagic fishery by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) with the support of the Coalition Government’s Senator Richard Colbeck. Both trips have resulted in the deaths of dolphins and seals. This is an inevitable consequence of AFMA’s management of this type of vessel in this fishery and is unacceptable.

“The Stop the Trawler Alliance has been pointing out the risk to marine mammals since before the attempt to bring in the super trawler Margiris”, says Tooni Mahto, from the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

“Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, has the responsibility of ensuring dolphins are protected from the impacts of fishing. We’re waiting to see evidence he’s taking the responsibilities of his portfolio seriously”.

“We have predicted that dolphins and seals would die in this fishery, and they have”, said Jon Bryan of the Tasmanian Conservation Trust. “Dolphin and seal kills are practically inevitable under the current management arrangements. The excluder device has not been properly tested and will not be adequately monitored under AFMA’s current management plan. There is a real risk that instead of protecting marine mammals, the excluder device will simply dispose of the evidence by dumping dead and injured animals into the ocean.”

“These deaths and interactions with dolphins are rare with other forms of commercial fishing and recreational fishing in Australia, but due to this type of fishing with mid water trawl harvesting the food source these mammals survive on interactions will always be high”, said Nobby Clark from the Gamefish Tasmania Sports Fishing Club.”I would like to make it very clear that there is no comparison to this new industrial scale fishing venture in Australia to that of the interactions that recreational fishers have while enjoying our time on the water with friends and family”.

“Its not just the number of dolphins and seals that have been killed, but the way that they have been drowned in the nets. The animal welfare implications are significant”, said Jon Bryan. “I think most Australians would find it unacceptable for these animals to be drowned as a regular part of any Australian fishery”.
“We understand the vessel is now in port. We expect the Australian Government to ensure it does not head out to fish again in Australia,” continuned Miss Mahto. “It clearly can’t fish without killing dolphins and therefore shouldn’t be allowed to fish at all.”

The Stop the Trawler Alliance calls on Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Environment Minister Greg Hunt to direct Senator Colbeck and AFMA to stop the operation of the Geelong Star and protect seals and dolphins.

Stop the Trawler Alliance
Tooni Mahto, Australian Marine Conservation Society,
Nobby Clark, Game Fish Tasmania Sports Fishing Club,
Jon Bryan, Tasmanian Conservation Trust.
Stop the Trawler Alliance