18 January 2008
New Zealand The Federal Government is being urged to keep a close watch on a new fishing trial being carried out off the New South Wales south-east coast.
A 1,500-ton New Zealand-based trawler is spending the next month in Eden investigating whether the skip-jack tuna industry can be re-established in the area.
But veteran Eurobodalla industry representative, Ron Snape, says he cannot understand why the Government is allowing the ship into the fishery after it spent almost $500 million rationalizing the Australian fleet.
He says the boat’s operations in Commonwealth waters need to be monitored.
He says the biggest worry is the size of the by-catch.
