Conservationists are sounding the alarm after Australian authorities decided to allow a New Zealand “super trawler” to return and fish for orange roughy in the state’s waters.
The Amaltal Explorer, owned by Nelson-based Talley’s, is equipped with onboard processing and freezing facilities, allowing it to fish continuously in one location for extended periods.
Under Australian laws protecting wildlife that are ‘vulnerable to exploitation’, the orange roughy, capable of living over 140 years, is listed as conservation-dependent.
The fish do not begin breeding until they are around 30 years old, making them particularly susceptible to overfishing.
Historical overfishing in the 1980s and 1990s led to a drastic population collapse, prompting Australia to impose a fishing ban in 2006, with the Cascade Plateau fishing zone southeast of Hobart being the sole exception.
“When will we learn the lessons of history?” Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson asked.
“The infamous historic crash of the orange roughy fishery off the coast of lutruwita/Tasmania is a tale of greed and stupidity that should never be repeated.”
Sustainable seafood campaigners are concerned that unfulfilled catch volumes from the previous year, when the super trawler did not fish in the area, could potentially double the allowable catch this year.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority has stated that the Amaltal Explorer will exclusively fish the eastern zone this time, targeting 60% of the current 1,320-tonne Total Allowable Catch (TAC) using quotas owned by Australian companies.
Talley’s General Manager of Fishing Leon Moore said orange roughy stocks off Tasmania are ‘highly sustainable’ and that the vessel will dedicate half of its time to scientific research for the CSIRO.
“The benefits to Australia are significant through the science being gathered and the provision of orange roughy for Australians,” he said.
