2016-11-23
Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson welcomes the news that the factory-freezer vessel Geelong Star has left Australian water.
Senator Whish-Wilson said, “This situation is bizarre. The fisheries authority has posted a mysterious statement on their website about the Geelong Star no longer being in Australian waters. They haven’t said when it left, where it is has gone and if it is coming back.
“This has come totally out of the blue. I definitely welcome the news. I don’t want these large factory fishing vessels operating in the small pelagic fishery in Australian waters at all.
“It’s not good enough for AFMA to issue a statement with so little information. A simple check of the Marine Traffic website shows the Geelong Star is off the coast of South Africa.
“AFMA should be upfront to the Australian people about whether the Geelong Star is coming back.” Senator Whish-Wilson concluded.
Media ReleaseHealthy Oceans