The company bringing a super trawler to Australia’s Tasmania has pledged to restrict fishing in individual areas to avoid depleting local fish stocks.
Seafish Tasmania is bringing the 142-metre Margiris to Devonport to fill its 18,000 tonne quota for redbait and jack mackerel.
Recreational fishers and conservationists have opposed the plan, saying the massive trawler could wipe out local fish stocks.
Seafish Tasmania has confirmed it will operate the trawler under a “move on” provision and will move at least 100 nautical miles after catching a certain amount of fish from a particular area.
But it is not clear how much fish the Margiris will take from an area before it moves.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is yet to receive a registration application for the super trawler.
It is due to start fishing Commonwealth waters by the end of the month.
The trawler needs to be reflagged and marked, and then licensed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) before it can start fishing.
But the maritime authority says it has not received an application for the trawler to be registered in Australian waters.
2012 ABC