Showing posts with label fishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fishing. Show all posts
Friday 25 March 2016
News on the Turnbull Goverment-endorsed Death Star
Dutch-owned company Seafish Tasmania Pty Ltd and its super fishing trawler Geelong Star are in the news and on social media this month…..
ABC News, 10 March 2016:
Seafood processing company Seafish Tasmania has been fined $40,000 for breaching the state's environmental laws.
The company pleaded guilty to dumping more than 1,000 truckloads of fish processing waste water from its Triabunna plant on a private property in the township in 2012.
Seafish has also admitted to dumping waste water at an unnamed creek on Tasmania's east coast three years ago.
The Magistrate's Court in Hobart has heard the company and landowners have conducted remedial work at a cost of $21,000.
Magistrate Chris Webster recorded a conviction on each charge and imposed the fine, together with court costs.
Tasmania's Environmental Protection Authority said the fine was appropriate…..
Monday 8 February 2016
The Turnbull Government continues the Abbott Government's failure to protect Australian marine life from foreign super trawlers including the Geelong Star
Image of Geelong Star (formerly FV Dirk Dirk) and position heading towards the Bass Strait on 28 January 2016
Geelong Advertiser, 2 February 2016:
THE dolphin-killing trawler Geelong Star has been cleared to return to work just days after being suspended for the deaths of seven albatross in one trip.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority lifted its ban on the controversial fishing vessel on Sunday after authorities were satisfied the length of net cables had been reduced and made more visible.
The trawler must stop fishing “immediately” if a seabird is killed by the cable until the authority has investigated.
Geelong Star’s management plan, updated on January 16, shows the trawler will be forced to carry an AFMA observe on “at least the next trip” if two or more marine mammals are found in the end of the net.
A full reassessment is required if any changes are made to the exclusion device, which is designed to prevent seal and dolphin deaths.
AFMA chief executive Nick Rayns said the new protection methods came on top of existing mitigation methods…..
Greens spokesman for fisheries Peter Whish-Wilson said the AFMA’s catch and release of Geelong Star risked making a mockery of the regulation.
“If a member of the public had killed seven albatross over a week they would be charged under Australian environmental laws,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.
“If over the period of a year a member of public had killed some dolphins, some more dolphins, then some seals and finally some albatross then that person would probably end up doing jail time.
“But it is one law for the member of the public and another for the Geelong Star.
“The Geelong Star has been given a license to kill protected marine species and it’s time its license was revoked.”
Stop the Trawler and Environment Tasmania spokeswoman Rebecca Hubbard said it was time for the Federal Government to overrule the AFMA and ban the trawler outright….
Mercury, 1 February 2016:
A COALITION of environmentalists and recreational fishers has expressed alarm at a recommendation by a newly appointed scientific panel to increase the Geelong Star’s total catch.
The Stop the Trawler Alliance argues that the recommendation — disclosed at a stakeholder forum in Hobart on Thursday — had been made, despite ongoing concerns from recreational fishers and conservationists that the large factory freezer trawler could cause localised depletion of fish stocks.
“A newly appointed scientific panel is now proposing to increase the total catch from 42,000 tonnes to over 49,000 tonnes,” said Rebecca Hubbard from Environment Tasmania.
“Instead of listening to community concerns the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) have further reduced stakeholders input into critical decision-making processes.”…..
A brief history of this super trawler owned by Parlevliet & Van der Plas Beheer B.V. and contracted to its Australian subsidiary, Seafish Tasmania, can be found here.
Marine reserves in Australian waters may also be under further threat from commercial fishing with The Guardian reporting this on 6 February 2016:
Marine reserves in Australian waters may also be under further threat from commercial fishing with The Guardian reporting this on 6 February 2016:
Australia’s leading
marine scientists are appealing to the federal government to reject a review
expected to recommend a significant reduction in the size of ocean sanctuaries
and an expansion of areas permitted for commercial fishing.
Tony Abbott announced
the review of the boundaries of Labor’s marine parks, counted by the former
government as one of its greatest environmental achievements, during
the 2013 election campaign, and said he would scrap the just-finished
management plans so that the fishing industry could be given a greater say.
The leading scientists
understand the review, now finally completed, recommends a sizeable reduction
in some areas previously designated as closed to fishing and trawling,
particularly in the Coral Sea, and say it has ignored expert scientific advice.
“If the government winds
back what was already just partial environmental protection it would be
terrible for the environment and send a terrible message to the world,” said
West Australian marine science professor Jessica Meeuwig.
“We have no faith in
this process. They haven’t spoken to marine scientists, despite our best
efforts. They spent a lot of time talking to the extractive industries.
If Malcolm
Turnbull is serious about being guided by science and by evidence he will
reject recommendations to reduce marine sanctuary zones,” she said.
Meeuwig is one of 10
leading marine researchers who have formed the Ocean Science Council of
Australia and have published benchmarks against which the review should be
judged, including:
* No further
diminishment of marine national park zoning in bioregions and key ecological
features should occur as these are already significantly under-represented in
the 2012 plans
* The international
standard for ocean protection of a minimum of 30% of each marine habitat in
highly protected no-take marine national parks should be met;
* Very large marine
national parks such as that proposed for the Coral Sea should be preserved.......
This is one of the areas potentially under threat:
The new Coral Sea
Commonwealth Marine Reserve covers 989 842 km2 and is an important
national asset in near pristine condition. The reserve will be managed for the
primary purpose of conserving the biodiversity found in it, while also allowing
for the sustainable use of natural resources in some areas. The reserve
includes the different marine ecosystems and habitats of the Coral Sea marine
region and will help ensure our marine environment remains healthy and is more
resilient to the effects of climate change and other pressures.
The Coral Sea
Commonwealth Marine Reserve will provide additional protection for many species
listed as endangered or vulnerable under Commonwealth legislation or
international agreements, including the endangered loggerhead and leatherback
turtles and the critically endangered Herald petrel. The reserve also supports
the world's only confirmed spawning aggregation of black marlin.
Sites of high
productivity in the reserve, such as those around seamounts, are important
aggregators for a range of species including lanternfish, albacore tuna,
billfish and sharks. Large marine mammals journey hundreds or even thousands of
kilometres to breed in the reserve, or to travel through en route to breeding
areas.
The new Coral Sea
Commonwealth Marine Reserve encompasses the former Coral Sea Conservation Zone,
former Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve and former Lihou Reef National
Nature Reserve. Transitional management arrangements apply until a management
plan for the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve is in place.
Labels:
#TurnbullGovernmentFAIL,
fishing,
marine life,
maritime
Monday 11 May 2015
Environmental vandals: the Abbott Government never learns from its mistakes
Geelong Star (Credit: ABC)
Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) media releases tell a sad tale of lessons not learnt by the Abbott Government.
MISTAKE NO. 1 – allowing the super trawler to operate in Australian waters
Geelong Star meets AFMA requirements on arrival into Australia
Last updated 1 April 2015
Today (1 April 2015) officers from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) met and inspected the Geelong Star, the mid-water trawl vessel nominated by Seafish Tasmania Pty Ltd in the Small Pelagic Fishery, upon its arrival into the port of Albany, Western Australia.
Officers from AFMA’s Bycatch and Compliance units conducted a detailed inspection of the vessel. AFMA Compliance officers confirmed that the Geelong Star has met AFMA’s strict conditions for fishing vessels entering Australia and that the GPS-based vessel tracking system is fully operational.
AFMA General Manger of Fisheries Operations, Mr Peter Venslovas said that the vessel passed all AFMA’s requirements for a new fishing vessel entering Australia waters.
“AFMA Compliance officers routinely conduct inspections of all fishing vessels in Commonwealth fisheries to ensure that they comply with AFMA’s strict management arrangements. Today’s inspection of the Geelong Star is just the first in what will become a regular event for this vessel when operating in the Small Pelagic Fishery” said Mr Venslovas.
Assessment by AFMA Bycatch officers confirmed the vessel’s ability to comply with AFMA’s requirements to minimise and monitor impacts on non-target species and the broader marine environment. Their inspection included a detailed assessment of the vessel’s Marine Mammal Excluder Device and the seabird bycatch mitigation devices required by AFMA.
An AFMA-approved Vessel Management Plan is required for all mid-water trawl vessels operating in the Small Pelagic Fishery and today’s inspection was a key step in AFMA’s process to finalise the necessary plan for the Geelong Star.
Vessel Management Plan conditions are in addition to, or re-inforce, AFMA’s standard operating and reporting obligations for all mid-water trawl vessels in the Small Pelagic Fishery. These detailed plans set out the individual vessel requirements to ensure fishing impacts on non-target marine wildlife and other fisheries (recreational and commercial) are minimised.
The Vessel Management Plan for the Geelong Star will be published on the AFMA website once it has been finalised. The Vessel Management Plan is subject to change by AFMA at any time in response to new information about the fishing operations or the marine environment.
MISTAKE NO. 2 – imagining that bycatch would not become a vexing issue
AFMA inspect the Geelong Star
Last updated 2 April 2015
On 1 April 2015, AFMA Compliance and Bycatch Officers inspected the Geelong Star, the mid-water trawl vessel recently nominated by Seafish Tasmania Pty Ltd in the Small Pelagic Fishery.
AFMA Compliance Officers confirmed the vessel met AFMA’s conditions for entry of fishing vessels to Australia and that AFMA’s tamper-proof, GPS-based vessel tracking system was correctly installed and fully operational. The officers also collected detailed vessel information to assist them during future inspections to ensure compliance with AFMA’s catch limits and other management arrangements.
AFMA Bycatch Officers inspected the bycatch mitigation devices required by AFMA including the marine mammal excluder and seabird scaring devices installed on the Geelong Star’s mid-water trawl gear. The officers also undertook an assessment of the vessel’s ability to comply with AFMA’s full suite of requirements to monitor and minimise impacts on non-target species and the broader marine environment and gave an educational presentation to the vessel’s skippers and crew advising them of the requirements.
Following AFMA’s initial inspection of the vessel, it will now work with the company, vessel crew and bycatch experts to finalise the Vessel Management Plan (VMP). This plan will set out the detailed operational requirements that minimise the impact of fishing operations on non-target marine wildlife and other fisheries (recreational and commercial). The conditions set out in the VMP are in addition to, or otherwise reinforce, AFMA’s standard operating and reporting conditions for all mid-water trawl vessels in the Small Pelagic Fishery.
All mid-water trawl vessels in the Small Pelagic Fishery must have an AFMA-approved VMP before commencing fishing operations. Once finalised, AFMA will publish the VMP on our website. Please note that the VMP is subject to change by AFMA at any time (even within a fishing trip) in response to new information about the fishing operations and/or the marine environment.
For more information read the FAQs for the Small Pelagic Fishery on the Small Pelagic Fishery page.
MISTAKE NO. 3 – Expecting a management plan to be effective re large marine animal bycatch for a factory ship expecting to catch up to 230 tonne a day in its small-fish nets with a 16,500 tonne quota limit
Geelong Star Vessel Management Plan
Last updated 22 April 2015
All mid-water trawl vessels in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery must have a vessel management plan approved by AFMA before they start fishing. This is a legal requirement.
A vessel management plan is a comprehensive boat-specific plan to minimise the risk of interactions with protected species (e.g. seabirds, seals and dolphins). Vessel management plans contain both recommendations and mandatory measures that must be employed by the boat to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to minimise its impact on protected species.
Vessel management plans can be updated to ensure they take into account on-the-water experience and the latest developments in techniques to reduce interactions with protected species.
The Geelong Star Vessel Management Plan was updated on 22 April 2015. View the updated Geelong Star Vessel Management Plan.
MISTAKE NO. 5 – not posting an Australian Fisheries Management Authority media release on its website alerting the Australian public to the fact that during its first fishing voyage the Seafish Tasmania and Parlevliet & Van der Plas Beheer B.V. killed four protected dolphins and two protected seals in Geelong Star’s nets
ABC NEWS 28 April 2015: Tasmanian Government refuses to publicly denounce operation of factory trawler Geelong Star
MISTAKE NO. 6 – not admitting that allowing this super trawler to continue to operate is a political and environmental error
Geelong Star – operational update
Last updated 2 May 2015
Statement 2 May 2015
AFMA has been advised of four further dolphin mortalities from fishing by the Geelong Star, the vessel nominated by Seafish Tasmania Ltd to fish in the Small Pelagic Fishery. The mortalities occurred in one shot during the vessel’s second trip. AFMA has also been advised of two fur seal mortalities during the vessel’s second trip.
Consistent with the requirements of all vessels fishing in Commonwealth waters, the Geelong Star must report any interaction with protected species, including marine mammals like dolphins, fur seals or Australian sea lions.
AFMA takes any marine mammal mortalities seriously. We are disappointed that these additional dolphin and seal mortalities have occurred.
AFMA understands the Geelong Star is voluntarily returning to port because of the dolphin mortalities for a full review of its marine mammal exclusion equipment. AFMA will participate in the review to determine how to minimise further marine mammal interactions. The vessel will also be inspected by AFMA officers when it arrives in port to ensure all catch documentation is in order.
MISTAKE NO. 7 – a weak response from the Federal Minister for the Environment and Liberal Member for Flinders, Greg Hunt, who did not post a ministerial media release on the subject and only made a statement on 3 May 2015 to journalists saying that he would write a letter or two
ABC News 3 May 2014 Greg Hunt condemns factory trawler Geelong Star's dolphin deaths as 'unacceptable and outrageous'
Tuesday 5 May 2015
Abbott Government's mindless obeisance to foreign-owned multinational commercial fishing corporations has had the inevitable result
The 100% Dutch-owned subsidiary of Parlevliet & Van der Plas Beheer B.V. the Australian registered Seafish Tasmania and its super trawler hired from the parent company, the now rebranded Geelong Star, have been found to have committed the inevitable environmental crime associated with large factory ships – killing prohibited species as part of their by-catch.
The Abbott Government would have been well aware that classifying commercial fishing trawlers on length of vessel and not freezer storage capacity would lead to adverse environmental impacts but, in its mindless rejection of any measure put in place by the former federal Labor government, Tony Abbott & Co have shown that far-right ideology is more important that preserving sustainable food resources and biodiversity of marine life for the benefit of present and future Australian citizens.
The Guardian, 3 May 2015:
The Australian environment minister, Greg Hunt, has condemned as “unacceptable and outrageous” the killing of a dozen dolphins and seals by a factory fishing trawler.
The Geelong Star, a ship that environmental groups and some MPs wanted banned from fishing Australian waters, voluntarily returned to its home port after catching four dolphins and two seals on its second local outing.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) had previously said the ship would face stricter controls after it also caught and killed four dolphins and two seals in its nets on its first trip.
Hunt released a statement on Sunday saying he was “absolutely appalled” by the news, ABC reported.
Hunt said he would write to the AFMA and to Tasmanian senator Richard Colbeck, the parliamentary secretary for fisheries and a strong defender of the trawler’s methods.
The Geelong Star has factory freezer capabilities but escapes a permanent ban on so-called super trawlers because at 95 metres it is under the 130-metre size limit.
Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said the government should cancel the trawler’s fishing licence and management plan immediately.
“They’ve failed twice. The regulator has failed in its job to protect dolphins and seals and who knows whatever other marine life and the boat needs to go home,” he told ABC.
Colbeck released his own statement saying the further deaths of marine mammals was “very bad news and is not welcomed by anyone”.
He said the decision of operators Seafish Tasmania to “voluntarily return to port is appreciated”….
Labels:
#AbbottGovernmentFAIL,
biodiversity,
fishing,
food,
government policy,
oceans
Friday 3 April 2015
Abbott Government has given permission for Dutch-owned Seafish Tasmania and Parlevliet En Van Der Plas Beheer B.V. to bring a super trawler into Australian waters
FV Dirk Dirk now known as the Geelong Star
Photo: www.maritimetraffic.com
The FV Dirk Dirk owned by Parlevliet & Van der Plas Beheer B.V. based in The Netherlands, now rebranded the Geelong Star, is currently in or near the port of Albany in West Australia.
This refrigerated trawler has a gross tonnage of 3,181 and is 95.18 metres long, 14.50 metres wide, with a service speed of 14,000 knots.
It has freezing and holding capacities of 230,000 kg fish/day (230 tonne) and 91,000 cartons respectively.
The newly re-named Geelong Star comes from the same fishing fleet as the notorious FV Margiris which Seafish Tasmania and Parlevliet En Van Der Plas temporarily rebranded the Abel Tasman during its unsuccessful 2012 to 2014 attempt to fish these waters.
The Geelong Star is reportedly expected to take up to 16,500 tonne of fish during its initial trawl this year – only 2,000 tonne less than the larger super trawler Margiris was hoping to take in 2012.
The Geelong Star’s maximum quota is an est. 47 per cent of the 2014-15 total allowable catch.
The Abbott Government intends to allow this ship to fish the Australian Small Pelagic Fishery which extends from the Queensland/New South Wales border, typically outside 3 nautical miles, around southern Australia to a line at latitude 31° south (near Lancelin, north of Perth).
In what appears to be a deliberate attempt to politically deceive, the government issued a media release on 12 February 2015 which ignored the antecedents of Seafish Tasmania.
Calling this company “Australian” when in fact it is a company merely registered in Australia but wholly-owned by Silver Pit B.V. a subsidiary of Parlevliet & Van der Plas which also has branches in the U.K., France, Germany, Spain and Lithuania.
The media release also ignores the fact that it is highly likely that the entire catch will be exported, so that there will be little benefit from the vessel's fish catch flowing to Australia either economically or as available food stock.
As for the potential for adverse environmental impacts – I doubt whether the Minister for Agriculture and Nationals MP for New England, Barnaby Joyce, has given more than a passing thought to this issue.
He did not release the REPORT OF THE EXPERT PANEL ON A DECLARED COMMERCIAL FISHING ACTIVITY: FINAL (SMALL PELAGIC FISHERY) DECLARATION 2012 until October 2014 and then with little fanfare.
Unfortunately this report cannot rule out localised depletion of fish stocks given the number of variables in play when a large refrigerated trawler is operating within a fishery.
In 2012 the then Labor Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, stood up for the North Coast region and successfully lobbied to keep the Margiris out of Australian waters.
Based on his record to date, it would be foolish of anyone to expect the current Nationals MP for Page, Kevin Hogan, to stir himself.
Fishing fleets based on the NSW North Coast from the Clarence to the NSW-QLD border have been working towards achieving sustainable fishing practices and they bring millions of dollars annually to the regional economy, so it is disappointing to see the Abbott Government allowing a foreign-owned company to trawl in the NSW fishing zone when it has a history of breaching conditions* imposed by host countries.
* Dutch pelagic group Parlevliet & van der Plas (P&P) fined €105,000 in an Irish Court in 2014.
* In 2012 Parlevliet & Van Der Plasfined fined €595,000 in Cherbourg after the Maartje Theadora was stopped with €1.2million of illegally-caught fish in freezers.
* Parlevliet & Van der Plas FV Jan Maria alleged to have dumped almost 1.6 thousand tonnes herring at sea to make room for fish with a higher market value (highgrading) in 2012-2013.
* Dutch pelagic group Parlevliet & van der Plas (P&P) fined €105,000 in an Irish Court in 2014.
* In 2012 Parlevliet & Van Der Plasfined fined €595,000 in Cherbourg after the Maartje Theadora was stopped with €1.2million of illegally-caught fish in freezers.
* Parlevliet & Van der Plas FV Jan Maria alleged to have dumped almost 1.6 thousand tonnes herring at sea to make room for fish with a higher market value (highgrading) in 2012-2013.
UPDATE
This was a Seafish Tasmania spokesperson in The Advocate on 3 April 2014:
Mr Geen said he expected his Dutch partners Parlevliet & Van der Plas BV involved in the proposed super trawler, earmarked to operate out of Devonport and create about 45 jobs while fishing the Great Australian Bight, would still be keen to pursue the venture pending a successful outcome on the court and expert review hurdles.
"The only thing that's clear is we would like the opportunity to catch our quota,'' Mr Geen said.
"We need to talk to our Dutch partners.
"We have not called them for a long time but as far as I'm aware they are still interested.
Note how carefully crafted is this misleading impression that Seafish Tasmania is an independent company in partnership with the Parlevliet & Van der Plas and not owned by this Dutch company.
Labels:
Abbott Government,
environment,
fishing,
food
Sunday 11 May 2014
NSW Government currently canvassing support for commercial netting of Pine, Bonville, Boambee and Newports estuary creeks
Boambee Creek mouth at Cchange Adventure
NSW Baird Coalition Government’s proposed Reform Program For NSW Commercial Fishing:
Number of meshing nets
Number of meshing nets
If managing the meshing share classes by the number of meshing and flathead nets, a meshing
endorsement holder would be able to use one meshing net (or flathead net where relevant) up to a
maximum length of 725 metres for every 125 meshing shares. A shareholding of 250 shares would
allow the endorsement holder to use two meshing nets (or flathead nets where relevant) with a
maximum length of 725 metres for each net.
Length of meshing nets
If managing the meshing share classes by the maximum meshing and flathead net length, a meshing
endorsement holder would be able to use up to a maximum of 725 metres of meshing net (or
flathead net where relevant) for every 125 meshing shares. A shareholding of 250 shares would
entitle the endorsement holder to use up to a maximum of 1,450 metres of meshing net (or flathead
net where relevant).
Alternatively, one share could equate to 5.8 metres of meshing net. A share holding of 125 shares
would entitle the endorsement holder to use up to a maximum of 725 metres of meshing net (or
flathead net where relevant). A shareholding of 150 shares would entitle the endorsement holder to
use up to a maximum of 870 metres of meshing net (or flathead net where relevant), and so on.
All submission forms are due back by 8am Monday 19th May 2014 and forms for those who are not commercial fishers can be download here.
The Coffs Coast Advocate 8 May 2014:
A proposal to net large swathes of local creeks is ringing alarm bells among local users of the estuaries.
Sawtell resident and avid canoeist Rod Edwards said the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is currently canvassing support for the commercial netting of the Pine, Bonville, Boambee and Newports creeks.
He said the proposals in relation to the Pine and Bonville Creeks would be for netting to be allowed within the boundaries of the Bongil Bongil National Park for all species of fish as well as prawns.
Rod said the use of massive nets would be permitted, with the use of a method known as splashing allowed between sunset and sunrise from June to August.
"The proposal is to allow nets of a staggering 400m in length to be used," Rod said.
"This will decimate fish stocks and the amenity of recreational fishers.
"More importantly, it is within the National Park entirely for Pine Creek and east of the Highway for Bonville Creek. Native bird populations within the National Park which feed and are protected under current legislation will be directly affected if this proposal is allowed to be approved."….
The Boambee/Newports Estuary has a roughly rectangular shape catchment area of approximately 49 km2. It extends about 8 km from the coast with a coastal floodplain of approximately 3 km wide. It consists of three main tributaries: the largest being Newports Creek in the north; Boambee Creek is next largest and drains the middle portion of the catchment; and Cordwells Creek the smaller of the catchments drains the south. The Boambee/Newports Estuary is permanently open to the ocean and has no artificial entrance training works, as it is naturally trained by Boambee Headland on the southern side.
Wednesday 23 April 2014
Only an estimated 10 per cent of all marine life caught ends up on dinner plates
Click on chart to enlarge
Ensia.com:
April 2, 2014 — What percentage of all the marine life caught by industrial fishing operations ends up on our plate? Ninety percent? Seventy-five? Fifty? Not even close. Try just 10 percent. The rest is simply discarded as bycatch — the unwanted fish and other marine creatures caught during commercial fishing operations. And we’re not just talking fish. The “other marine creatures” includes everything from whales and porpoises to turtles and albatrosses.
Labels:
fishing
Tuesday 11 March 2014
Looking back at a time when the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association sometimes told the unvarnished truth
A time when the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) was honest with the people of New South Wales:
3 August 2011
Ben Cubby
THE coal seam gas industry has conceded that extraction will inevitably contaminate aquifers.
The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association told a fiery public meeting in Sydney that good management could minimise the risks of water contamination, but never eliminate them.
"Drilling will, to varying degrees, impact on adjoining aquifers," said the spokesman, Ross Dunn. "The extent of impact and whether the impact can be managed is the question."
The admissions came before the start of the first public hearing in NSW, held in Narrabri, of a Senate inquiry into the effects of coal seam gas mining.
The hearing was told that many farmers in northern and western NSW were angry about proposals to extract coal seam gas from their land, and some planned to join a mass campaign to lock their gates in the face of resources companies...
"The intent of saying that is to make it clear that we have never shied away from the fact that there will be impacts on aquifers," Mr Dunn said.
"I'm wanting to ensure that we are not seen as saying there won't be any impacts during the process. It is a matter of monitoring and managing those impacts."...
Of course, immediately after the publication of this article APPEA denied the published quotes of its spokesperson.
However, on 7 March 2014 The Sydney Morning Herald published an article which supported APPEA's original statements:
A coal seam gas project operated by energy company Santos in
north-western NSW has contaminated a nearby aquifer, with uranium at levels 20
times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, an official investigation has
found.
It is the first confirmation
of aquifer contamination associated with coal seam gas activity in Australia -
a blow to an industry pushing state and federal governments for permission to
expand.
Santos was fined $1500
by the NSW Environment Protection Authority, which posted a media release on
its website on February 18, without identifying the nature of the
contamination.
Two days later, Deputy
Premier Andrew Stoner signed a memorandum of understanding with Santos to speed
up the project, in the Pilliga forest near Narrabri, guaranteeing a decision on
its future by January 23 next year.
The EPA says it launched
an investigation after routine testing in March last year by Santos of
groundwater around the project - which remains in the test well stage -
detected ''elevated levels of total dissolved solids and slightly elevated
levels of other elements''.
The investigation
concluded there was no evidence contractors engaged by the previous owner of
the project, Eastern Star Gas, followed strict rules when building a pond to hold
waste water and brine produced when gas is extracted. The investigation
concluded the pond liner was of ''poor quality, which resulted in the integrity
of the liner being questionable''.
On Friday, EPA chief
environmental regulator Mark Gifford confirmed the contamination was caused by
water leaking from the pond and that lead, aluminium, arsenic, barium, boron,
nickel and uranium had been detected in an aquifer at levels ''elevated when
compared to livestock, irrigation and health guidelines''.
Mr Gifford said the
metals are ''not additives'' and occur naturally in the surrounding soil and
water.
''However, the leaking pond
has mobilised the elements and moved them into the aquifer, increasing their
concentrations,'' he said...
Read more at : http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-coal-seam-gas-project-contaminates-aquifer-20140307-34csb.html
Note: My red bolding
Sunday 2 February 2014
Something for NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to remember while making plans to permanently open marine reserves to fishers
Not every recreational fisher is a saint. More than a few are like this..............
Illegally caught Blue Groper that were discovered by fisheries officers, and resulted in a conviction in Maclean Local Court. Pic: courtesy Department of Primary Industries.
Spearing NSW’s official state fish has resulted in fines and professional costs of $3,660 plus additional court costs, after a man was convicted in Maclean Local Court this month for killing six Blue Groper.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Director of Fisheries Compliance, Glenn Tritton, said the Blue Groper was made the official state fish emblem of NSW in 1998.
“It is extremely disappointing to see this type of blatant disregard for the rules especially when Blue Groper have been protected from spear fishing for nearly 45 years,” Mr Tritton said....
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Director of Fisheries Compliance, Glenn Tritton, said the Blue Groper was made the official state fish emblem of NSW in 1998.
“It is extremely disappointing to see this type of blatant disregard for the rules especially when Blue Groper have been protected from spear fishing for nearly 45 years,” Mr Tritton said....
Anyone witnessing any illegal fishing activity is urged to contact their local fisheries office immediately or to call Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536.
BACKGROUND
The Sydney Morning Herald 14 January 2014:
BACKGROUND
The Sydney Morning Herald 14 January 2014:
More than 200 marine scientists have called on the O'Farrell government to reinstate a ban on recreational fishing in coastal waters with high conservation values.
Last March the government introduced what it said was a temporary lifting of restrictions on shore-based line fishing at beaches and headlands in six marine parks with no-take sanctuaries pending an assessment of the impact.
The scientists, worried that the government may be about to make the "amnesty" permanent, issued a joint-statement calling for the reinstatement of protected zones "in keeping with well-established and proven scientific practice".
NSW has six multiple-use marine parks, including Cape Byron, Solitary Islands, Port Stephens-Great Lakes, Jervis Bay, Batemans Bay and Lord Howe Island. They account for about 7 per cent of NSW's state waters, and extend 3 nautical miles (5.5 kilometres) from shore.
"These are the exact habitats probably being affected the most by recreational fishing," said Will Figueira, a marine ecologist at the University of Sydney, and one of the scientists leading the petition.
Dr Figueira said the public often underestimated the impact of on-shore fishing
"Removing animals is not natural," he said. "When you sum it up, it's a quite large number of animals that are being removed."
The March decision was controversial because it appeared to be linked to winning support from the Shooters and Fishers Party for unrelated bills on public sector wages. Scientists say the decision for a temporary lifting of the ban was also unaccompanied by efforts to establish a baseline to study the impact on eco-systems.......
Labels:
environmental vandalism,
fishing,
law,
NSW government,
NSW politics
Wednesday 6 March 2013
Dutch super trawler finally leaving Australian waters
In the space of twenty-one days Seafish Tasmania and
Parlevliet En Van Der Plas Beheer B.V blinked........
THEN
AAP 13 February 2013
Super-trawler operator Seafish Tasmania has begun court action to sue the
federal government and two ministers over the ban on the controversial fishing
behemoth Abel Tasman.
Seafish managing director Joe Pirrello says documents have been sent to the
Federal Court instigating action against the government, Environment Minister
Tony Burke and Fisheries Minister Joe Ludwig.
Mr Burke used new powers to ban the 142-metre vessel last year after a public
backlash and on Tuesday announced he would knock back a plan for it to be used
as a "mother ship".
Under the proposal, smaller boats would fish for Seafish's 18,000-tonne quota
of jack mackerel and redbait, with the Abel Tasman to be used as a giant
offshore freezer.
The ship, formerly known as the Margiris, has been berthed at Port Lincoln in
South Australia since its arrival from The Netherlands in August, costing
Seafish more than $10,000 a day.
"About eight days ago we presented the Federal Court (in) Queensland with
documents to sue the federal government, Tony Burke and Joe Ludwig in order to
overturn his original declaration," Mr Pirrello told AAP.
In a statement, the company added: "The Australian government, through AFMA
(the Australian Fisheries Management Authority), encouraged Seafish Tasmania to
spend millions of dollars to bring the Abel Tasman to Australia.
"Now the Australian government wants us to go away. We won't be going away."
NOW
FV Able Tasman from Google Images
The Hon. Tony Burke MP
Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Seafish Tasmania today put out a statement saying the Abel Tasman is leaving Australian waters.
The Gillard Government last year acted to stop the Super Trawler – formally named the FV Margiris - from fishing in Australian waters until the sufficient scientific checks have been completed.
At the core of this issue was one principle - there was significant uncertainty about the environmental impacts of this new form of fishing.
When faced with this sort of uncertainty you can either be cautious and wait for the scientific work to be done or roll the dice and run the risks.
Australia chose to be cautious when it came to protecting the ocean. It was the right thing to do.
The Gillard Government makes no apology for not taking risks when it comes to protecting our precious oceans.
Background here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)