By NOEL MURPHY
SUPER trawler Geelong Star is embarrassing Geelong and needs a name change, according to MP Sarah Henderson.
The Corangamite Liberal called for the controversial trawler to be banned from fishing operations, labelling its work a “spectacular failure” following the recent death of eight dolphins and two fur seals in two separate incidents.
“These dolphin deaths are completely unacceptable and the operation must be shut down,” Ms Henderson told the Independent.
“It’s within the powers of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority to shut it down and it must take this action. It has lost the confidence of so many people and enough is enough.
“But apart from banning the fishing operations I also call on operators Seafish Tasmania to change the trawler name. This vessel is no star of Geelong — the name is an embarrassment for our city.”
The AFMA has announced that mid-water trawlers in the Small Pelagic Fishery, including the Geelong Star, will only be allowed to fish during daytime hours as part of more restrictive measures. Ms Henderson welcomed the move but said it was not enough.
“I do not consider that a partial ban will provide the confidence our community needs that this is a fail-safe operation,“ she said.
Ms Henderson has called on her own government’s Senator Richard Colbeck, parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, to ban the Geelong Star’s operations and demand its operator Seafish Australia show its “marine mammal exclusion device” is failsafe.
The ship has suspended fishing operations following the latest dolphin deaths.
“Whether the vessel is at sea or in port, the name should be changed — I don’t want to see Geelong associated with it,” Ms Henderson said.
“All the vessel’s operations take place a long way away from Geelong in southern Australia and around Tasmania — not in our waters.
“In any event after these terrible dolphin deaths, it’s not a positive for our city that this vessel continue to be called Geelong Star.”
Ms Henderson’s campaign against the super trawler was labelled “disingenuous” by the newly-announced Labor candidate for her seat, Libby Coker.
“I was amazed to see this statement from Ms Henderson,” she said.
“It is the Abbott Government which is allowing this super trawler despite warning from the expert panel. Ms Henderson is a member of the Abbott Government and has not said one word about it up in Canberra.”
