Seafish Tasmania has launched legal action against the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke.
The company, now based in Queensland, has lodged documents in the Federal Court of Australia challenging the legality of the ban imposed on its super trawler, the Abel Tasman, in September.
Seafish managing director Joe Pirello said Mr Burke's latest move to stop the 143-metre long vessel being used as a ''floating freezer'' showed he was an ''appalling decision maker''.
He said the company was not suing the government for money, despite the venture costing ''many millions''.
''We're not after any handouts. We're fishermen and we just want to be able to fish.''