THE Geelong Star has resumed fishing off the coast of Tasmania.
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The 95-metre trawler was forced to dock in Victoria last month after it killed eight dolphins and four fur seals in less than two weeks while fishing in the Small Pelagic Fishery.
Earlier this week, Small Pelagic Fishery Industry Association chairman Grahame Turk said the trawler had returned to the fishery for daylight fishing only, after it satisfied stakeholders that all future dolphin deaths could be avoided.
``The operators have made considerable investment in new technology aimed at reducing risk of dolphin inter-actions,'' he said.
``AFMA’s (the Australian Fisheries Management Authority) conditions make this the most tightly regulated mid-trawl fishery in Australia. The association and the operators of The Geelong Star share the community’s concern about harm to dolphins as an iconic species.''
A new type of barrier net has been mounted inside the mouth of the Geelong Star’s net to specifically keep dolphins out.
The barriers is made from 200 millimetres of mesh grid.
This device sits closer to the mouth of the net than the existing marine mammal excluder device.
Regulations now require the Geelong Star to to have camera coverage across its deck so the regulator can have 24/7 coverage of the vessel's operations.
SPFIA says an AFMA observer will also remain on board, and will do so for at least a year from its first fishing trip, while one of the Geelong Star’s crew has a wildlife observer’s qualification and will be the designated dolphin spotter on board.