Following reporting about the alleged involvement of a person associated with the super trawler Margiris/Abel Tasman in alleged drug importation, Liberal MP for Lyons Mark Shelton today revealed he had recently written the Deputy Prime Minister requesting the Federal Government to ban all super trawlers.
"When the Geelong Star left Australian waters it was good riddance to bad rubbish", Mr Shelton said.
"Super trawlers are banned in Tasmanian waters but currently there is nothing to prevent super trawlers less than 130 metres long from fishing in Commonwealth waters (> three nautical miles) off Tasmania.
"As an island state, fishing is one of the most popular recreational activities here and Tasmanians have been very concerned about the potential impact these large trawlers could have on the small pelagic fishery.
"That's why I have written to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg, calling on the Federal Government to take whatever action is necessary to guarantee large freezer factories are banned from trawling in Australian waters. "Super trawlers are a threat to Tasmania's fisheries and to our recreational lifestyle, and I am committed to seeing the back of them", Mr Shelton said.