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Marine conservationists warn incoming NZ trawlers – leave our seamounts alone
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has criticised the federal government for allowing New Zealand factory trawlers to fish for orange roughy around Tasmanian waters because of the disastrous damage they cause to deep sea coral reefs.
Trawlers, belonging to large New Zealand industrial fishing companies like Talleys and allowed by the federal government to fish under Australian laws, recently crossed the Tasman and are already fishing for orange roughy around the crests of underwater mountains.
Recent science, published since last winter’s orange roughy fishing season and underpinned by a major CSIRO research voyage in 2018[1], has shown this type of fishing is likely the most destructive fishery still allowed to operate in Australia. This research showed that impacts of the fishery on deep sea coral reefs last for decades and possibly even centuries[2] as they target the hig
The Grapevine: How To Eat Fish Sustainably
With the spotlight returning to sustainable seafood off the back off Richard Flanagan’s new book on the Tasmanian salmon industry and the new Netflix doc
Seaspiracy,
The Grapevine chats to the Australian Marine Conservation Society about how we can eat fish in a sustainable manner. Sustainable Seafood Program Manager Adrian Meder gives us his tips on what to choose and what to avoid next time you’re at the fish n chip shop.
Find the more tips in the
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Marine conservationists welcome funding for cameras on boats
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) says it is encouraged by the announcement of Federal Government funding for ‘e-monitoring’ technology on fishing fleets, and says it is vital the system is extended to all sections of Commonwealth fisheries.
E-monitoring involves the installation of video cameras on fishing boats, providing fisheries officials and scientists with data on the numbers of endangered species caught as bycatch, as well as any saleable fish that are thrown back into the sea (legally or otherwise).
AMCS Sustainable Seafood Program Manager Adrian Meder said no new fisheries are getting e-monitoring in the announcement, with funding allocated to upgrade existing equipment and monitoring systems.
The orange roughy. Photo Wikipedia.
The battle for the ‘roughy has been a tough road for conservationists and hopefully, this win will be the last fight.
An appeal by the fishing industry to overturn a ruling on the sustainability of fishing for a long-lived Australian fish – the orange roughy – has failed following a long battle for science and Australian environmental laws to be respected.
An independent adjudicator threw out the appeal by consultants hired by the fishing industry – MRAG Americas. It means the orange roughy cannot be certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) because it is a protected species, listed as ‘Conservation Dependent’ under Australian law.