Source: Narooma News
Four South East Trawl vessels have been caught out not using mandatory devices to prevent seabirds becoming caught, injured or killed in fishing gear.
A fishing crew operating out on the Great Australian Bight meanwhile has appeared in court facing charges of shooting seabirds and littering.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has expressed its disappointment with these results following a recent aerial surveillance operation off Victoria and Tasmania to ensure compliance with seabird rules.
Under the rules introduced last year, trawlers must use devices to protect seabirds while trawl gear is in use.
A recent survey by Oceanwatch, commissioned by the South East Trawl Industry Association and supported by AFMA, showed over 90 per cent of operators are aware of these requirements.
However, the first surveillance operation detected a number of fishers not using the necessary devices and as a result AFMA issued two fishers with official warnings.
AFMA then contacted fishing operators by mail, SMS messages and through AFMA’s vessel monitoring system warning that any further non-compliance would be dealt with more harshly.
Despite the reminders, later aerial surveillance operations detected a further two operators not complying with the seabird management arrangements. Both vessels were ordered to port and investigations are continuing.
Peter Venslovas, AFMA General Manager Operations said that use of the seabird mitigation devices is a mandatory component of seabird management plans, which were developed and agreed upon with each fishing vessel operator.
“It is disappointing to see the level of non-compliance particularly when AFMA and the fishing industry association have worked so hard to get these measures in place,†Mr Venslovas said.
“AFMA takes these issues very seriously and will be taking strong action against any operators found to be non-compliant with the terms of their seabird management plansâ€.
Since the plans were introduced AFMA has been working with owners and operators to develop a range of measures that reduce fishing impact on seabirds.
AFMA will continue to monitor fishing activity in areas where trawl boats operate.
Any fishing operator suspected of not complying with seabird rules will be subject to strict compliance action which could include an immediate order to return to port, investigation and possible prosecution.
An investigation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has led to seven fishermen being convicted in the Port Lincoln Magistrate Court today for criminal breaches associated with the illegal fishing of Southern Bluefin Tuna, the shooting of protected seabirds and littering at sea.
The men, crew members aboard two commercial Southern Bluefin Tuna tow boats, were convicted and ordered to pay fines totaling $22,000.
The magistrate indicated that the matters were very serious and that deterring these actions is paramount for the ongoing preservation and sustainability of our fisheries.
AFMA investigated the matters after the actions of crew members were detected on footage from video and other electronic recordings. The footage was seized by AFMA officers during a routine at-sea inspection of Southern Bluefin Tuna boats.
AFMA CEO Dr James Findlay said that the actions of the crew members were completely unacceptable; however this appeared to be an isolated incident in an industry that is highly professional and well regarded in Australia and abroad.
“These individuals obviously had no regard for the environment and the management of the fishery - actions like this undermine the sustainability of the fishery and bring the industry into disrepute,†Dr Findlay said.
“We are very pleased that their actions have now been dealt with by the courts and they have been penalized appropriately.â€
Dr Findlay said the convictions showed AFMA’s compliance and monitoring arrangements are effective and working well, however, as always, there would be a review of existing procedures to identify possible opportunities for improvement following the court outcomes.