Labor fishing policy calls for ban on super trawlers

LABOR will lobby Canberra to immediately and permanently ban super trawlers from Commonwealth waters if it wins power.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the State Government had “cynically” introduced the Living Marine Resources Management Amendment Bill to ban super trawling in Tasmanian waters despite the fact the ban already existed.

“Meanwhile the primary issue of super trawling in the Commonwealth small pelagic fishery remains unaddressed,” Ms White said.

Commonwealth waters begin three nautical miles off Tasmania’s coast.

“The door remains wide open to super trawlers, which have proven to have an unacceptable impact on marine mammals, including dolphins as bycatch,” Ms White said.

The party released its Fishing for the Future policy yesterday.

Under the policy, recreatio- nal fishers targeting salt-water coastal areas will not pay licence fees or charges and an extra $12.5 million would go to Marine and Safety Tasmania to improve signs and build public toilets in popular fishing areas.

Under Labor’s fishing policy, a review would also be done into the effectiveness of the Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing to ensure it was properly funded and resourced.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Sarah Courtney said Labor was simply rehashing existing government policy.