Kim Booth MP
Greens Primary Industries Spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today secured tripartite support for their  motion in the House of Assembly opposing the operation of the super trawler FV Margiris in Tasmanian waters.

Greens Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MP said the final motion passed would require the Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly to write to the Federal Minister for Fisheries, Joe Ludwig, expressing opposition to the trawler.

“This is a great show of unity by the Tasmanian Parliament, with all three parties now finally agreeing to stand in opposition to this super trawler coming into our waters and targeting the small pelagic fishery,” Mr Booth said.

“It’s now clearly on the record that the Tasmanian House of Assembly will not support the Margiris operating in our waters unless it can be satisfied that the vessel will not adversely impact on the recreational fishery.”

“This successful motion will now require the Speaker of the House to write to Federal Minister Joe Ludwig and inform him that the Tasmanian House of Assembly does not support the FV Margiris operating in our fishery.”

“It’s now up to the state Labor and Liberal parties to take this fight up to their counterparts in Canberra, because that’s ultimately where the decision over the super trawler will be made.”

“While it’s good to finally have State Labor and Liberal on board, if they had been prepared to support our initial calls to prevent this super trawler being given access to our waters, then the local communities could have been saved alot of uncertainty about whether they have support of their state Labor and Liberal representatives.”

“This motion will send a strong message to the Federal Parliament, where the Australian Greens are today debating a motion by the Tasmanian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson to disallow the recent quota increase for the Small Pelagic Fishery.”

“The Federal Fisheries Minister has failed to demonstrate that this ship’s activities will be sustainable and will not cause localised depletion off Tasmania, and he must  now heed the calls of the Tasmanian House of Assembly and ensure that the Margiris is not granted an operation licence.”

Mr Booth said the Greens had agreed to support a minor Labor Party amendment to secure passage of the motion, which the Liberal Party also supported.  The final amended motion was supported by all three parties unanimously.

The final amended motion passed reads as follows:

That this House

1. Notes that:

a)    The growing community concern and disquiet over the potential arrival of the super trawler, FV Margiris, to operate in Australian waters to fish the small pelagic fishery;

b)    The questions raised regarding the potential impact of the increased quota  of 18, 000 tonnes per annum on local fisheries;

c)       This is a matter for Federal authorities who are responsible for access to ports, fishing in Commonwealth waters and the setting of quota in those waters;

d)    That the Tasmanian local recreational and commercial fishing communities remain strongly opposed to the FV Margiris operation and have held large protest rallies around the state to stress their concerns;

e)    Both the Tasmanian Greens and the Tasmanian Liberal parties have publicly voiced their respective opposition to this proposed super trawler, with the shared concern that the Federal Labor Minister, Senator Joe Ludwig, has failed to demonstrate that this commercial fishery activity will be sustainable and will not cause localised depletion off Tasmania;

2. Requests the Speaker to write to Senator Ludwig, to advice him that the House will not support the FV Margiris operation in Australian waters and waters around Tasmania until the Parliament can be satisfied that the vessel and proposed harvest strategy will  not adversely impact on the recreational fishery.

3. The House recognises the need for a balanced approach between the needs of a sustainable commercial fishing industry, access for recreational fishers and appropriate marine conservation outcomes.

August 22, 2012