The Tasmanian Greens today called on Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, to hold firm to his commitment to impose a two year ban on super trawlers operating in Australian waters, when he announces his decision due next week.
Greens Member for Braddon Paul O’Halloran reminded the House that Tasmanians and Australians have an expectation that the super trawler would be banned for two years.
“Next Tuesday Minister Burke will be making a decision as to whether the Abel Tasman, formally known as the FV Margiris, should be allowed to trawl Australian waters,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“No new science has been proffered that would give anyone confidence that the operation of the super trawler would not undermine the sustainability of Australia’s marine ecosystem and in so doing the economic viability of the myriad of small businesses that rely on it.”
“The only new information that has come to light is a re-analysis of the original report that predicted the biomass of jack mackerel and used by AFMA to set the total allowable catch.
“The re-analysis by scientists at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies found that the biomass had been set too high and they recommended that a more appropriate methodology be used in future.”
“If it weren’t for the Australian public, initially driven by the Tasmanian community, voicing their concerns then the super trawler would now be fishing.”
“The Australian public expect that the ban on the super trawler will last for two years and today in Parliament I called on Minister Burke to meet those expectations,” Mr O’Halloran said.
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