Recreational game fishermen off Bermagui on Wednesday sighted a large fishing vessel they believe was the controversial super-trawler Geelong Star.
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The vessel had been banned from Far South Coast waters for six months after dolphins were killed in its nets on previous trips.
That ban ended on December 16 and while its exact location is unknown, chairman of the Small Pelagic Fishery Industry Association Grahame Turk confirmed it has returned to the Far South Coast in recent days.
A large vessel was spotted Wednesday morning at the “Bait Hole” located just north of Bermagui on the edge of the Continental Shelf and later that day it was photographed off Eden.
Comments were made on VHF Channel 22 by the fishermen that the mystery vessel did not register on their on-board AIS vessel identification systems, which has been an issue raised with the Geelong Star’s operation.
Commercial fishermen in Bermagui were concerned the 91-metre mid-water trawler that targets species such as jack mackerel and cowan young was operating in the vicinity of their fixed traps.
There is another meeting of concerned residents and fishermen at the Spencer Park clubhouse of MBGALAC this Friday, January 8, at 6.30pm.
Dr Simon Allen will be sharing his understanding of the marine species and environmental issues associated with industrial fishing of the sort being undertaken by the Geelong Star.
Dr Allen of the University of Western Australia in Perth is a marine mammal and dolphin behaviour expert.
He has been conducting research on dolphin behaviour and the interactions between marine mammals and humans through tourism, coastal development and fisheries for 20 years, including work at Port Stephens (NSW), Shark Bay, the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts (WA), and as far afield as California (USA) and Okinawa (Japan).
His work has included research on a range of fishing trawlers, assessing bycatch and proposing mitigation measures.
MBGALAC committee members are among those who want to see the Dutch-owned super-trawler banned from game fishing areas.
In December they met with member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy to discuss their concerns about the trawler’s impact on the recreational angling industry.
However, Mr Turk said the trawler’s operators have done all they can to minimise impact on recreational fishing.
“We’re not around on weekends, we’re not near major tournaments,” Mr Turk said. “And this is not a reaction to the beat-up, it’s what we agreed to do up front.”
Mr Turk said he appreciated the presence of the super-trawler is not going to make everyone happy.
“But there’s got to be something said that for as much as it takes, there’s a hell of lot more fish left.”
He also discounted claims fishing for small pelagic species like mackerel and redbait increases the likelihood of sharks seeking food closer to shore.
“The scientific panel that analysed the operation concluded the quantity taken is not enough to affect the food chain and predatory species have other small species to target.”
Mr Turk emphasised all the fish caught by the Geelong Star were destined for human consumption, with most exported to Africa.
Bermagui Fishermen’s Co-op chairman Rocky Lagana did not not agree with recreational fishers who wanted to ban the trawler.
"What gives them the right to fish and no-one else the right to fish?" he said.
"They are fishing for sport, the Geelong Star is fishing for the population.
"I can understand Stop the Trawler Alliance's concerns, but how is the Geelong Star any different to a Chinese company buying a farm in Australia and exporting their stock back overseas?"