4 September, 2012
FV MARGIRIS
Madam Speaker, I seek leave
to make a ministerial statement.
Today, the South Australian Government has
written to the Federal Minister for Fisheries, the Honourable Senator Joe Ludwig,
urging the Commonwealth Government to not allow the FV Margiris to operate in the Small Pelagic Fishery.
As
Members would be aware, the arrival of FV
Margiris in South Australian waters late last week has attracted a great
deal of controversy.
The South Australian Government understands
that there is widespread concern among commercial and recreational fishers,
conservation groups and local communities about the proposed operation of this
vessel, and its potential impact on local fisheries and marine life, in
particular in Commonwealth waters adjacent to South Australia.
I want to
assure the South Australian community that this vessel does not have permission
and will not be granted permission by the South Australian Government, to
operate in South Australian waters.
I
understand that the vessel is seeking to operate
under a Commonwealth fishing permit in Commonwealth waters adjacent to
South Australia, targeting jack mackerel, blue mackerel and redbait in the Small Pelagic Fishery. Approval of this
venture rests entirely with the Commonwealth government.
Madam Speaker, if the vessel is granted
approval to operate in these areas - the Government would have serious concerns
about the potential risks of the ship’s operation to threatened, protected
and endangered marine species, as well as localised depletion of small pelagic fisheries and potential impacts on
fish species that are commercially important to this State.
In particular, significant concerns have been
raised with the State Government about the potential for large quantities of
sardine bycatch to occur. This would place in jeopardy the sustainable sardine fishery which makes a
significant economic contribution to our state.
Of significant further concern is the
potential for this vessel to damage the reputation of our State’s premium,
clean green seafood industry, which is highly valued and recognised across the
world.
We understand that this is the largest fishing
vessel to ever seek authority to operate in Australian waters. The nets are 300
metres in length and the vessel can process over 250 tonnes of fish in a single
day. This ship has a cargo capacity of 6,200 tonnes making it effectively a
fish-factory on water.
We acknowledge that the Federal Environment
Minister, the Honourable Tony Burke, has recently announced new
conditions on the management regime for the small pelagic fishery that requires
the operators to take all reasonable steps to ensure that listed threatened
species, listed migratory species, cetaceans and listed marine species are not
killed or injured as a result of trawling operations.
However, Madam Speaker, these conditions are only
interim and do not give any certainty to the South Australian community that
our important marine life and seafood industry will not be impacted.
The Government is also aware of speculation
that the operators of this vessel are considering setting up base in Port
Lincoln and I can advise that the Government has not received any information
to that effect. The Government would
indeed be very concerned if that were the intent of the owners.
Madam Speaker, the presence of this immense
trawler in our region highlights the importance of establishing marine parks to
protect our marine environment and the unique life within it. And by better protecting our marine
environment we are securing the future of our State's vital fishing industry.
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