Yaizu Tuna Fleet Possibly Moving To Australia ff

Source: The Mercury

The possible return of a Japanese tuna fishing fleet to Hobart has drawn fears of another mass protest similar to the one leveled against a controversial super trawler.

The Hobart City Council has raised the possibility of a fleet from Hobart’s Japanese sister city, Yaizu, again using Hobart to refuel and buy provisions.

A council report says Yaizu’s fleet visited Hobart from the 1970s until 1998 when Japanese boats were banned from Australian ports.

That ban was lifted four years ago but the fleet has not returned.

Lord Mayor Damon Thomas told last night’s Strategic Governance Committee meeting that Yaizu officials had raised the issue almost immediately when he led a council delegation to the Japanese city in May this year.

“We’re not talking about opening up fishing grounds, we’re talking about providing fuel and support services,” Ald Thomas said.

“It’s potentially a very large income provided for the city.”

He stressed that the council was not committing to anything and needed to investigate whether Yaizu was in fact serious about the idea.

Ald Bill Harvey demanded to know what species of tuna would be targeted and whether the fleet’s methods were environmentally sound.

“I have reservations about this ... and whether or not it’s giving a leg-up to an unsustainable industry,” he said.

“After all the anger associated with the [super trawler] Margiris I think we have to be cautious.”

He said Tasmania’s recreational fishermen had proven themselves to be “quite a force to be reckoned with” during the successful push to stop the super trawler fishing in Bass Strait.

Deputy Mayor Ron Christie said it would be premature to consult local fishermen on the issue when it was not even known if the Yaizu fleet intended to return.

Ald Eva Ruzicka said it was a matter of politeness to inform Yaizu officials about the lifting of the ban, since they had inquired.