A federal cabinet revolt is brewing over approval for a super-trawler to fish in Australian waters, despite seven independent scientists undermining the case against the controversial jack mackerel operation.
Labor sources told The Australian several senior federal ministers were paving the way to ban the factory ship Margiris amid concern about overfishing and impacts on recreational fishing, as well as a backlash from environmentalists.
While Fisheries Minister Joe Ludwig told caucus the super-trawler’s ability to operate in Australia would be determined on the basis of the law, Environment Minister Tony Burke said caucus members were entitled to air their views publicly.
Mr Burke, understood to be seeking advice on his powers to intervene, told caucus members opposed to the super-trawler he had “no problem” with their speaking out ahead of the approval process.
Shipping Minister Anthony Albanese also expressed concern about the Margiris, the world’s second-largest super-trawler and the biggest fishing vessel proposed to operate in Australian waters.
However, the issue has divided Tasmanian Labor MPs, with some, such as Dick Adams, fearing a political decision would set a bad precedent that the fishing industry would regret.
There is a growing body of scientific opinion in support of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority’s contention that the ship’s quota — 5 per cent of fishing stocks — is sustainable and evidence-based.
Yesterday, seven independent scientists rejected claims the Margiris was likely to cause localised depletion of fish stocks.
In a paper, the fisheries experts from three leading research bodies found the trawler’s 18,000-tonne quota of small pelagic fish was conservative and in line with global practice and scientific advice.
Seafish Tasmania has been granted the quota, to be taken from a vast area of Australia’s southern waters stretching from Western Australia to Queensland.
A co-author of the paper on the science of the issue, Keith Sainsbury, of the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, told The Australian localised depletion of the foodchain was unlikely. He said this was due to the low allowable catch, the strength of the “food web” and the mobility of small pelagic species. “We regard the risk of local depletion as being very low,” he said.
However, the scientists backed a compromise whereby the trawler could not take all of its quota from a single area to further guard against localised depletion.
Seafish Tasmania director Gerry Geen said the paper disproved many claims made by those opposed to the super-trawler, who include the Greens and independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie.
A 35,000-strong petition against the ship was lodged at a rally in Canberra yesterday.
The Australian