The Tasmanian Government announcement banning “Super Trawlers” is little more than window dressing attempting to gain potential angler support for an upcoming election.
SFP Tasmania’s position is to demand an extension of the “No Trawling” ban to at least 20 nautical miles off our Tasmanian coastline and have this mandated by the Commonwealth Government.
“Super Trawlers” and trawling were already banned by regulation in Tasmanian waters which extend some 3 miles offshore, and while this gives a little more surety, it doesn’t address the core issue.
It is far more important to extend this ban to include our pelagic rich, Commonwealth waters, where most Tasmanian recreational game fishers chase their quarry.
The trawling ban should include the waters around our continental shelf where a majority of Tasmania’s game anglers and charter boat operators enjoy their sport.
Our State Government must aggressively lobby the Commonwealth Government to secure these waters around the Tasmanian coastline to protect the future of our $100 million dollar recreational fishing and tourism industry.
Until a Commonwealth ban is enacted our State Government’s legislation is only a token of what is actually required to protect us from future “Super Trawler” incursions and the pillaging of our much valued resource.
We call on Minister Rockliff to immediately communicate with and lobby his federal counterpart Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce on the need to address this issue in a positive and timely manner for the preservation of Tasmania’s wild ocean fish stocks.
Tasmanian anglers need to be assured of long term protection for their coastal waters and its fishery to foster further growth and maintain recreational fishing for future generations. There are millions of recreational fishers in this country who vote and have a voice. More than ever it’s time to protect our fisheries, now and for the future.
Adrian Pickin Press Liaison Officer Shooters & Fishers Party, Tas.
