The State Parliament has today supported legislation to ban super trawlers in Tasmanian waters.
All Tasmanians who love to fish will be happy this Bill will soon be law.
The Living Marine Resources Management Amendment Bill 2017 fulfils an election commitment by the Tasmanian Government to protect the small pelagic fishery from the impact of super trawlers.
Until now, any future government could have allowed freezer factories into Tasmanian waters simply by a change of regulation.
The Hodgman Liberal Government’s legislation means this will no longer be possible, and instead if a future government wants to weaken the laws, it must bring in an Act of Parliament.
Our Bill should give recreational fishers additional comfort that any future attempt to let super trawlers into the small pelagic fishery will be met with Parliamentary hurdles.
The Tasmanian Government will continue to work with the Federal Government to enact a ban in Commonwealth waters as well.