Recreational game fishermen off Bermagui on Wednesday sighted a large fishing vessel they believe was the controversial super-trawler Geelong Star.
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The vessel had been banned from Far South Coast waters for six months after dolphins were killed in its nets on previous trips.
That ban ended on December 16 and secretary of the Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club Chris Young has said “you can be sure that unless banned by the Commonwealth government it will rapidly return”.
A large vessel was spotted Wednesday morning at the “Bait Hole” located just north of Bermagui on the edge of the Continental Shelf.
Comments were made on VHF Channel 22 by the fishermen that the mystery vessel did not register on their on-board AIS vessel identification systems, which has been an issue raised with the Geelong Star’s operation.
Commercial fishermen in Bermagui were concerned the 91-metre mid-water trawler that targets species such as jack mackerel and cowan young was operating in the vicinity of their fixed traps.
There is another meeting of concerned residents and fishermen at the Spencer Park clubhouse of MBGALAC this Friday, January 8, at 6.30pm.
Dr Simon Allen will be sharing his understanding of the marine species and environmental issues associated with industrial fishing of the sort being undertaken by the Geelong Star.
Dr Allen of the University of Western Australia in Perth is a marine mammal and dolphin behaviour expert.
He has been conducting research on dolphin behaviour and the interactions between marine mammals and humans through tourism, coastal development and fisheries for 20 years, including work at Port Stephens (NSW), Shark Bay, the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts (WA), and as far afield as California (USA) and Okinawa (Japan).
His work has included research on a range of fishing trawlers, assessing bycatch and proposing mitigation measures.
MBGALAC committee members are among those who want to see the Dutch-owned super-trawler banned from game fishing areas.
In December they met with member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy to discuss their concerns about the trawler’s impact on the recreational angling industry.
However, Bermagui Fishermen’s Co-op chairman Rocky Lagana did not not agree with recreational fishers who wanted to ban the trawler.
"What gives them the right to fish and no-one else the right to fish?" he said.
"They are fishing for sport, the Geelong Star is fishing for the population.
"I can understand Stop the Trawler Alliance's concerns, but how is the Geelong Star any different to a Chinese company buying a farm in Australia and exporting their stock back overseas?"