Dear Committee Members and MPs,

The continuation of protected marine mammals, fish and birds and the latest news of a whale shark being killed by the nets of the super trawler Geelong Star is indicative of a poorly considered plan and worse management philosophy and practice. I am writing to tell you of my shock and opposition to the ongoing operation of the factory freezer trawler Geelong Star and to urge you to support the permanent banning of all such vessels in all Australian Waters and particularly the Australian Small Pelagic Fishery.

I am one of the majority of Australians who do not support the use of foreign factory freezer trawlers in this fishery. I want long term, sustainable fishing industries that don’t undermine other recreational fishing, tourism, or environmental values, and I don’t believe that super trawlers are a part of that future. The capacity of such fishing vessels coupled with the quota allocation is certain to have a significant and very negative impact on all species including (but not limited to) seals, sea lions, dolphins, marlin, tuna, albatross, gannets, and whales that are wholly or partly dependant on small pelagic fish for food/survival.

The sustainability of the SPF, if the current quota methodology remains in place, is questionable. The percentage reduction of biomass estimated over the next 20 years flies in the face of a genuinely sustainable fishery. Please consider predation (by the species listed above and others) as a significant impact on the SPF prior to any intervention by humans. Please also consider the long term recovery and sustainability of those species and what impact increasing populations of predatory species will have on the small pelagic fishery. Please also be considerate of every detail in your considerations, reports provided to date indicating that predatory species will turn their attention to other food sources is too light on detail, specific information on which alternate food sources are available and to what extent they can sustain the current and future populations is important.

The Australian Government is responsible for managing Australia’s fisheries on behalf of the Australian public and it should start responding to what the public wants – no super trawlers. I cannot state this strongly enough; in my view there is NO place in Australian culture or fisheries management for this type of senseless mass destruction. I cannot see any benefit, to the average Australian, give the risk to recreation and industry that is present if this monstrosity is let plunder our waters.

Whaling remains banned because it is considered unacceptable to Australian values. Those values underpin and underwrite our fisheries management. No Australian fishery has been as controversial, since commercial whaling was ended. I do not consider super trawlers acceptable in Australian waters and I am outraged that public opinion has been ignored for so long by AFMA and the Government.

Please accept this as a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the environmental, social and economic impacts of large-capacity fishing vessels commonly known as 'Supertrawlers' operating in Australia's Marine Jurisdiction. Yours sincerely

John Stanfield