Controversial factory freezer trawler the Geelong Star killed 15 Australian fur seals between January and March this year, the same number as it killed in nine months of fishing in 2015.
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The seal killings were among 23 protected species deaths in the first three months of the year, with six shy albatrosses, an albatross and a shortfin mako also listed as being killed by the trawler in a first quarter bycatch report.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority previously reported the trawler had killed “a small number of seals” in February.
AFMA would not comment on when in the January-March period the seal deaths occurred.
Environment Tasmania’s Bec Hubbard said the 15 seal deaths was “a really significant number”.
“We’re worried they’re allowing it to trawl when the exclusion devices aren’t preventing seals from dying,” she said.
We’re worried they’re allowing it to trawl when the exclusion devices aren’t preventing seals from dying
- Environment Tasmania’s Bec Hubbard
All albatross deaths occurred in January, with a temporary ban imposed on the trawler following the killings.
The Geelong Star adopted additional seabird mitigation measures as of February 1.
The trawler also netted six protected species in quarter one that were listed as alive when released, including an interaction with a whale shark that sparked significant controversy when news broke in February.
The report also showed it was unknown whether a shortfin mako netted by the Geelong Star was alive, dead or injured following its release.
Small Pelagic Fishery Industry Association chairman Graeme Turk said any mammal death was concerning, but said he was pleased the trawler had not killed a dolphin between July 2015 and March 2016.
“No one wants to kill seals either and I’m sure they’re working on minimising that,” Mr Turk said.
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said the seal deaths showed it was time to ban industrial freezer vessels, and referenced the 2015 recommendations from the government’s expert panel.
“If the recommended protections were in place the Geelong Star would have been ordered into port when a seal was caught,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.
The Geelong Star has attracted a considerable amount of local opposition since it started fishing in the Small Pelagic Fishery last April. AFMA will release bycatch figures for the April-June period in August.
A spokesperson said AFMA continued to closely monitor the Geelong Star’s operation.