Super Trawlers

The majority disagreed that the Government should ban super trawlers from Australian waters. Super trawlers include ships like the Abel Tasman, which was known as the FV Margiris.

Background to motion

Back in November 2012, the Labor Government imposed a two-year ban on super trawlers in response to opposition to the Abel Tasman. This temporary ban has now ended and a further temporary ban will end in April 2015.

In November this year, two Tasmanians travelled to Canberra to deliver a petition signed by 30,000 people that asked the Federal Government to permanently ban super trawlers. This motion takes up this request for a permanent ban.

Read more about the debate surrounding super trawlers and their impact on the sustainability of fisheries in this Background Briefing.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the report of the expert panel on a declared commercial fishing activity, Final (Small Pelagic Fishery) Declaration 2012, has been released,

(ii) the report found a super trawler would negatively impact on protected species such as seals, dolphins and sea birds, and

(iii) the statement by the Prime Minister (Mr Abbott) on 4 March 2014 that 'the super trawler is banned from Australian waters…it was banned with the support of members on this side of the House. It was banned; it will stay banned'; and

(b) calls on the Government to introduce legislation banning super trawlers from Australian waters.