By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
PERMISSION for controversial factory trawler Geelong Star to resume night fishing has opponents fearing it will mean more dolphin deaths.
Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) announced the lifting of the ban this week.
The ban was initiated after the Geelong-based 95-metre factory fishing trawler killed eight dolphins and four seals in its first two trips.
Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson told federal parliament yesterday she was dismayed at the ban’s removal.
She wanted the trawler banned altogether.
“As dolphins feed predominantly at night, it’s almost certain that overturning this night ban will lead to more dolphin deaths,” Ms Henderson said.
“The trawler’s owner, Seafish Australia, has not been able to evidence that its marine mammal exclusion device is failsafe.
“I don’t believe this is good enough and I’ll be seeking the urgent intervention of Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.”
Ms Henderson said the “significant opposition” in Corangamite to the trawler led to her organising a community rally with Barwon Heads builder Jason O’Neill on 25 October at Torquay.
Stop the Trawler Alliance’s Jon Bryan said the existing management plan meant any further deaths might not be revealed.
“There’s a lot of secrecy surrounding the trawler’s operations and the damage could go undetected.
“AFMA has set up a process that fails to give the best coverage of what occurs and that’s a problem. There’s no provision for underwater video.
“We still haven’t got information on where and when the earlier dolphins were killed.”
Mr Bryan said a condition stipulating a single dolphin death would result in the trawler being banned for six months from fishing in the area was inadequate.
“It’s not a bad condition except we can’t be sure that dolphin deaths will be recorded.
“It’s meaningless unless we can be sure of what’s happening. The system is set up so we can’t be sure of what is happening.”
The Independent reported last month that WorkSafe had made several visits to Geelong Star to resolve “health and safety matters” after it was moved from Corio Quay to Point Henry’s Alcoa jetty.
Operators claimed the ship had moved to a “lower-cost berth” for “minor maintenance work”.
AFMA said it lifted the ban because a “trigger-limit on dolphin mortalities” was in place.
“Safeguards implemented to minimise the risk of dolphin interactions by Geelong Star include (a) barrier net, closures of high risk areas and not discharging biological material when gear is in the water.”
Southen Pelagic Fishery chairman Grahame Turk said the ban had been “unnecessarily harsh” and “negatively impacted” the fishery’s economic viability.
“Reinstating night fishing is reinstating the status quo. Night fishing is a feature of every other trawl fishery in Australia and was part of the original management of this fishery.”
