WA
15849 posts
Trawler company fights back with science
Super-trawler operator Seafish Tasmania has released a report by six scientists who say the facts have been skewed in the debate over the controversial FV Margiris.
Experts from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, the CSIRO and the South Australian Research and Development Institute have authored a background paper on the fishery set to be trawled by the 142-metre factory ship.
They say they have written the report because the debate over the Margiris has been marred by factual errors.
"On the one hand, we have a number of politicians and protest groups making claims about the fishery based on limited knowledge and here we have a detailed rebuttal by acknowledged experts," Seafish director Gerry Geen said in a statement.
"Who should the public believe?"
The report concludes that impacts on the fishery, including localised depletion of species, are unlikely.
The Devonport-bound Margiris will trawl for a quota of 18,000 tonnes in small pelagic fisheries between Western Australia and NSW.
The scientists say the catch quota is lower than scientific guidelines and the southeast Australian marine ecosystem is less vulnerable than others to depletion.
They say the mobility of the species makes depletion less likely and the broad area of the fishery will spread the catch.
They add that historical evidence from the South Australian sardine fishery, a smaller area with a larger catch, shows no negative impact.
Opposition to the Margiris continued with the Tasmanian Greens tabling a motion opposing it in state parliament on Tuesday.
The party also tabled a petition with the signatures of more than 3000 Tasmanians.
"The clear message from every single person who signed this petition is that this 142-metre long freezer-trawler vacuum-cleaner has no place fishing in our waters," spokesman Kim Booth said.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8519762/trawler-company-fights-back-with-science
WA
23680 posts
Can it suck up great whites also? That would be handy
WA
23680 posts
Can it suck up great whites also? That would be handy
