FISHING SUPER TRAWLER

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (16:41): I move:

That this council:

1. notes the significant concerns of the South Australian community, commercial and recreational fishing groups and conservation groups about the presence of the FV Margiris in our region and the proposal for it to operate in the South Australian Small Pelagic Fishery;

2. notes the importance of the Small Pelagic Fishery to the South Australian fishing industry and the marine ecosystem;

3. notes the potential risks that this immense trawler would have on threatened, protected and endangered marine species and potential impacts on fish species that are commercially important to our state;

4. notes the potentially devastating effects that this super trawler may have on the South Australian sardine industry, which makes a significant contribution to our South Australian economy;

5. opposes the proposed operation of the super trawler in the Small Pelagic Fishery; and

6. strongly urges the federal minister to reject the application for the FV Margiris to operate in the Small Pelagic Fishery.

As members would be aware, the arrival of the FV Margiris—which, I understand, is seeking to change its name to the Abel Tasman in Australian waters—has attracted both growing interest and debate in the South Australian community. I understand that the vessel is seeking to operate under a commonwealth fishing permit in commonwealth waters adjacent to South Australia, targeting jack mackerel, blue mackerel and redbait in the Small Pelagic Fishery. This maritime pelagic environment is the largest aquatic habitat on earth.

Yesterday we heard in this chamber that the South Australian government responded to the public's widespread concerns, and has written to the federal minister for fisheries about this matter. The state is also concerned about preserving this state's reputation for a premium, clean and green food industry. I understand that fishers, conservation groups and local communities alike have opposed the operation of the ship and its potential impact on local fisheries and marine life—in particular, in commonwealth waters adjacent to South Australia.

The government also has serious concerns about the potential risk of the ship's operation to threatened, protected and endangered marine species. I understand the federal minister (Tony Burke) has announced conditions for the management of the small pelagic fisheries that require operators to take all reasonable steps to ensure that listed threatened species are not killed or injured as a result of the trawling operations. However, I am advised that these conditions are only interim and do not give any certainty to the community of South Australia that our important marine life and seafood industry would not be impacted.

It is well recognised that South Australia's marine and coastal environments are internationally recognised for their biological diversity. Both the commonwealth and South Australian governments consider the introduction of marine parks a significant conservation initiative for the habitat protection and biodiversity conservation of the marine environment. The arrival of the FV Margiris has caused many of these same communities and stakeholders to question the government's commitment to marine conservation.

I am advised that there is the potential for localised depletion of the small pelagic fisheries and the impact on fish species that are commercially important to this state, in particular, the sardine fisheries. Small pelagic fish are usually forage fish that are hunted by larger pelagic fish and other predators. Forage fish filter feed on plankton and are usually less than 10 centimetres long. They often stay together in schools and may migrate large distances between spawning grounds and feeding grounds. Localised depletion is of particular concern in small pelagic fisheries because it could disrupt predator feeding and behaviour and, in turn, affect the marine ecosystem.

There have also been significant concerns about the potential for large quantities of sardine bycatch to occur. If this was to occur, it would place in jeopardy the sustainable South Australian sardine fishery, which makes a significant economic contribution to our state. In 2010-11, the value of the output generated directly in South Australia and on the Eyre Peninsula region by sardine fishing enterprises summed $19.3 million. Flow-ons to other sectors of the state economy added another $23.6 million in output.

I applaud this state government for its initiative in approaching the federal fisheries minister to express the widespread concern of South Australians and to voice its objections to the proposed operation of the super trawler in the small pelagic fisheries, and I strongly urge the federal minister to reject the application of the FV Margiris to operate in the small pelagic fisheries.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. D.W. Ridgway.