An expert scientific panel has warned of broad environmental risks of a supertrawler in Australia’s small pelagic fishery.
In a report on the controversial plan, the federal government-appointed panel found a host of protected native seals and seabirds would be at risk of losing their food to the fishing, even if special precautions were taken.
“The panel’s assessment has confirmed that there are considerable uncertainties relating to the extent of those impacts, and the level of impact that would create adverse environmental outcomes,” the report released on Tuesday said.
The panel was asked to examine the fishery for jack mackerel and redbait by the previous Labor government after it banned the Dutch-owned super trawler Margiris when it came to Australia to fish an 18,000-tonne quota in 2012…
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/expert-panel-warns-of-supertrawler-environmental-risks-20141125-11tt5e.html