2016-11-23
Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, says that we have found out more about the future of the Geelong Star from a shipping website (marinetraffic.com) than we have from the company or from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
Senator Whish-Wilson said, “A review of the Marine Traffic website shows that the Geelong Star left Melbourne on the 31st of October, is currently rounding the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and has designated its destination as the Port of Coll, in the Inner Hebrides in Scotland.
“The disappearance of the Geelong Star is a mystery matching the ghost ship, Mary Celeste.
“It is a 12,500 nautical mile trip from Melbourne to Scotland, so given the Geelong Star has skipped town during peak fishing season it is clear that it doesn’t plan to come back anytime soon.
“The dolphins of Australia will breathe a sigh of relief, but the Loch Ness monster might want to rethink any ocean-going excursions lest it get caught up in the Geelong Star’s 300 metre long net.
“Seafish Tasmania needs to make a statement about whether it plans to ever bring the Geelong Star back to Australian waters.
“This mystery disappearance is a huge embarrassment to all those who backed and put their faith in this vessel and company for years and years, especially to its long-time backers, Tasmanian Liberal politicians,” he concluded.
Media Release Healthy Oceans