'Super trawler' under fire for fishing in Tasmanian waters, catching dolphins, seals

A decision to let a 'super trawler' fish inside Tasmanian waters has again been criticized on Wednesday, after it was revealed that the trawler had inadvertently killed four dolphins and two seals in its nets.

The 'Geelong Star' is the largest fishing boat in operation in Australia, and faced heavy protests from both local conservationists and the state government in the weeks leading up to the federal government decision which allowed the boat to fish in Tasmanian waters.

Protests had been held as recently as last Sunday regarding SeaFish Tasmania's largest trawler, which uses an 80-meter net and has permission to catch up to 16,500 tons of fish per year.

The 'Geelong Star' did follow protocol in alerting authorities once the deaths of the marine life occurred, and the boat has been fitted with a marine mammal excluder device.

It was reported the super trawler stopped fishing in the area where the dolphins and seals were caught, and moved to an area 20 nautical miles away to continue fishing.

But Environment Tasmania marine co-ordinator Rebecca Hubbard told News Corp said that the increased use of large, factory trawlers was having an unacceptable and negative impact on species that were not being targeted.

"After just two weeks of fishing, it's a very bad sign," she said on Wednesday.

Tasmanian Greens leader Kim Booth has back Premier Will Hodgman 's stance against the use of super trawlers, calling for a cessation of operations while concerns are aired with the federal government.

He called for a "tripartisan" approach to stop the use of allegedly unsustainable fishing practices.

"I am calling for it to cease while concerns over its impact upon the fishery, including local depletion of fish stocks, are addressed," Booth said on Wednesday.

"The motion seeks to give voice to all those Tasmanians, recreational and local commercial fishers and their communities, eco-tourism operators, and others, all of whom are outraged that once again we are having to defend our fisheries from the onslaught of a huge industrial floating fish factory."

The federal government enacted a ban on trawlers longer than 120 meters in 2012, and while the 'Geelong Star' is 35 meters shorter than the limit, Tasmania already has state laws that prohibit the use of trawlers in local waters.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) said that further measures of control would be placed on the 'Geelong Star' from Wednesday to attempt to prevent any further accidental marine- life deaths. Endi