Pic: Greenpeace
• Read for yourself … the debate so far:
Speakers_Letter_re_Trawler-S_Ludwig_22Aug2012.pdf
Senator_Ludwig_Response-HoA_Motion_22Aug2012.pdf
Link: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2F146f9d31-6489-4c70-b0f4-3903d790744e%2F0198%22
• Peter Whish-Wilson: Last chance for Labor and Liberal Senators to halt the super trawler
Tonight in the Senate the Australian Greens motion to disallow the quota for the super trawler was adjourned until Monday, September 10th after extended debate.
The motion would disallow the fishing quota granted by the government that enables the unprecedented introduction of the factory ship to the Small Pelagic Fishery, effectively halting the FV Margiris.
“Stakeholders across Australia have demanded legislated, transparent safeguards we can all see and trust to protect our fisheries and ecosystems now and into the future,” Australian Greens spokesperson on Tasmanian marine issues, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, said today.
“I’m urging all Tasmanians to contact their Labor and Liberal Senators to support the Greens motion when it comes to a vote in the next sitting period,” he continued.
“The introduction of this factory trawler, which has an appetite of over 90,000 tons of fish per year, poses unaddressed risks to Tasmanian and Australian fisheries and the people whose livelihoods depend on them so we have to take what action we can to halt it.” he concluded.
The recreational fishers of Tasmania have serious concerns surrounding the imminent introduction of a Super trawler into the Small Pelagic Fishery and potential negative effect a vessel of this kind may have on the marine environment in Tasmania.
Recreational fishers have staged a number of demonstrations across the state in the past few weeks. Rallies in Hobart, Launceston and the North West Coast gained unprecedented support never before seen on matters effecting recreational fishing.
Our group now stands publicly accused of having been fed misinformation by ENGO’s and Green political parties about the environmental effects a Super trawler will have on this fishery.
North West Recreational fisherman John Edwards said,
“These accusations have been levelled at us by a number of politicians including the Federal Minister for Fisheries Mr Joe Ludwig, the Federal Opposition Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries Tasmanian Senator Mr Richard Colebeck as well as the Super Trawler proponent Seafish Tasmania CEO Mr Gerry Geen”.
“With these accusations in mind an information forum is being convened where the issues can be clarified for the record, in person, to the recreational fishers, by the people responsible for management, governance, and running of the Super Trawler fishing operation”.
Northern Recreational fisherman Todd Lambert said,
“Personal invitations to attend and put their respective position on matters have been extended to Senator Joe Ludwig, Senator Richard Colebeck, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Federal MP Dick Adams, Federal MP Andrew Wilkie, the Australian Fish Management Authority, Seafish Tasmania Pelagic Pty Ltd and TARFish”.
“Recreational fishers have traditionally been a broad church politically and to have an inference made that we have been mislead by green groups is insulting to our people, we were in fact the ones that approached the Greens because we were not getting heard through the traditional supporters of recreational fishers, the Labor and Liberal parties. At the moment we feel the Federal Government and the Federal Opposition have turned their back on us so here is the opportunity for all the stakeholders to stand before the recreational fishers and clarify their position on the issues”
The forum will be open to the public, including all recreational fishers and will be held at the Campbell Town Hall on Sunday the 2nd of September 2012 commencing at 1.00pm.
First published: 2012-08-23 03:01 PM
