Opinion piece on the super trawler and the petition going around
On the issue of a
foreign company having access to our fishing grounds I am dead against, but we
need to be careful that we get the facts, and even more carful on what we sign,
it just might come back to bite us. if the issue of over fishing is of concern then the recent increase
of the quota of the very species this trawler will target, only a few weeks ago
from 5,000 tonnes to 10,600 tonnes should be the concern, and we need to get
accurate information on the status of that fishery, I would rather local Aussie
commercial fishers fish this quota then a large foreign company.
But one issue that this does raise however is that currently local trawlers in the area have a limited range as they have to return to port to process fish while they are fresh, a bigger factory ship like this one could effectively fish a much wider range for the same quota, now this can be good and bad, if properly regulated if could in fact ease the threat of local depletion, but the by catch issue is one that needs to be addressed. I am undecided on the issue of over exploitation as yet.
A particular petition is being run by Rebecca Hubbard, Marine Coordinator of Environment Tasmania. Who also is calling for larger marine parks throughout Australia than the ones released just the other day.
Petition link
http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/stop-giant-fishing-trawler-in-tasmania
But one issue that this does raise however is that currently local trawlers in the area have a limited range as they have to return to port to process fish while they are fresh, a bigger factory ship like this one could effectively fish a much wider range for the same quota, now this can be good and bad, if properly regulated if could in fact ease the threat of local depletion, but the by catch issue is one that needs to be addressed. I am undecided on the issue of over exploitation as yet.
A particular petition is being run by Rebecca Hubbard, Marine Coordinator of Environment Tasmania. Who also is calling for larger marine parks throughout Australia than the ones released just the other day.
Petition link
http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/stop-giant-fishing-trawler-in-tasmania
Call for larger marine parks link
http://www.et.org.au/news/
So be very careful of what you signing, if in the future they try to shut us or the commercial fishers down in that area, and use the excuse of over exploitation of the species, then how can you argue against it if you signed a petition that says the very same thing.
This issue has the danger of putting a wedge between recreational anglers and commercial fishers, which is exactly what these green groups want, If we are divided then we are both a much easier target.
More information on the quota increase from the meeting minutes of the South East Management Advisory Committee (South East MAC)as well as some of their concerns with the super trawler by some members, also on this blog update is a reference and link to shipping bills just passed to allow for a ship like this to employ foreign workers, at world pay rates if 2 senior Aussie staff are employed. on the South East Management Avisory Committee(south east MAC) blog post on Monday 26th March on this page.
http://www.et.org.au/news/
So be very careful of what you signing, if in the future they try to shut us or the commercial fishers down in that area, and use the excuse of over exploitation of the species, then how can you argue against it if you signed a petition that says the very same thing.
This issue has the danger of putting a wedge between recreational anglers and commercial fishers, which is exactly what these green groups want, If we are divided then we are both a much easier target.
More information on the quota increase from the meeting minutes of the South East Management Advisory Committee (South East MAC)as well as some of their concerns with the super trawler by some members, also on this blog update is a reference and link to shipping bills just passed to allow for a ship like this to employ foreign workers, at world pay rates if 2 senior Aussie staff are employed. on the South East Management Avisory Committee(south east MAC) blog post on Monday 26th March on this page.
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