European super trawler set to plunder Australian waters

[chrisawright]

Just an update -the Federal Labor Caucus will be considering a private members bill from Fremantle Labor backbencher Melissa Parkes to ban the super-trawler Margiris TODAY (Tues 11 Sept) - it sounds like it has majority support and would get up with Greens support in the Parliament. Details here:

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/super-trawler-plans-torpedoed-by-cabinet-20120910-25oib.html

Great news if it happens and the result of a massive social media campaign by Greenpeace, GetUp and rec fishing groups: www.stopthetrawler.net

BTW for all those who keep moaning about the Greens and Labor - the Liberals position is in FAVOUR of the Supertrawler. The Opposition spokesman on fisheries is Senator Richard Colbeck and he was just on the radio saying we shouldn't get in the way of developing natural resources - so that would be the party not to vote for at the next election!!

[finin]

The good news is they have managed to stop the newly named Able Tasman from fishing here for two years, untill a greater study is done on its prey.

[35R]

Ditto. I ended up donating money to the cause, and received this update today.

Dear friends,

Thank you! Together with almost 94,000 others, you have helped to deliver a great win for Australia’s oceans and fisheries. The Government have announced that they will prohibit the super trawler from fishing for two years until further scientific research into its impacts have been completed. We expect that this will result in a ban of super trawlers, but will have to remain diligent.

Since we began this campaign just over 3 months ago, there has been enormous energy to stop the super trawler. Together we have: held public forums in Devonport and Campbelltown in Tasmania; turned out to the National Day of Action events in Albany, Adelaide, Melbourne, Fremantle, Perth, Launceston and a huge flotilla in Hobart; delivered 35,000 paper fish to Parliament representing our petition; run ads in national papers; held numerous meetings with Ministers and politicians; built a human message in Fremantle; chipped in to keep the campaign going; and attended further rallies in Adelaide when the trawler arrived in Port Lincoln.

Together we have made an impact. Environment Minister Tony Burke said he heard from MPs across the country who were moved by the community concern over the super trawler!

This has been an enormous effort by many people from all walks of life across the country. I would like to thank the organisations that form the national Stop the Trawler Alliance for their hard work, and I'd like to thank you, the thousands of individuals that made this campaign happen!

Environment groups and fishing groups have worked tremendously well together on this, and this result demonstrates that together we can be successful in protecting the places, lifestyles and creatures we love.

If you’re in Hobart this Saturday, please join us for a No Super Trawlers Party at Parliament House Lawns, and celebrate this huge win for people power. Come along, meet others who were part of this campaign and eat some cake with us!

The proposed legislation means that this is not the end of the super trawler story, and we will have to work to ensure that this temporary ban is made permanent. Fisheries Minister Joe Ludwig has also announced a review of the Fisheries Management Act, which gives us a fantastic opportunity to ensure our fisheries management is more precautionary and better protects our precious marine life and fish from the huge range of threats that face them. Stay tuned for this in the future.

Thanks again for your support – we couldn’t have done this without you!

Rebecca

[hotbite]

I love the smell of Pilchards in the morning........smells like.... VICTORY!!!!

Edited September 11, 2012 by hotbite

[crusher87]

Makes me sick!!!

[pjbink]

[]

The 4 key issues are surely:

1. The quota was doubled to make it economically viable for the super trawler - NO NEW SCIENCE
   The quota means that they will be harvesting less than 10% of the estimated stock over two years. Actually this is an extremely conservative harvest. This is an important point which seems to be ignored.
   
2. Local depletions will occur due to the size of this thing - no bait = no predators
   Not having to fish close to a port would make local depletions less likely.
   
3. The multitude of small boats will be lost - loss of jobs and local economy
   Doesn't seem likely.
   
4. Lots of small boats spread around cannot result in local depletions
   

Small boats have to stay close to their ports.

Finally I'm not sure it does us any good using the same arguments thatthe greens use to justify marine parks, ie excessive use of the precautionary principle.