Patagonian toothfish poaching/protectingPatagonian toothfish in Australian waters

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Protecting the Patagonian toothfish in Australian waters

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Quote by The Hon Dr Sharman Stone

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Federal Member for Murray, Commonwealth Government of Australia (see whole

media

release below)

 

" Given the long lifespan of the species means that toothfish may not start

breeding until they are 15 years old, illegal and unregulated fishing may

mean that it takes many years before stocks regenerate " .

 

" In addition, because illegal fishers use long lines indiscriminately, they

are killing seabirds and endangered albatross. We are determined to stop

this practice and will continue to work closely with our international

partners to enhance measures to combat this problem " .

 

 

Media Release

The Hon Dr Sharman Stone

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Federal Member for Murray

 

18 October 2002

 

Combating Illegal Fishing on Agenda for International Antarctic Meeting

Moves to crack down on illegal fishing in Antarctic waters will be on the

agenda when representatives of more than 20 nations meet in Hobart next

week.

 

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

(CCAMLR), the body responsible for the conservation of marine resources in

the Southern Ocean, will meet from October 21 to November 1 at the Wrest

Point Hotel.

 

Top of the agenda for the meeting will be the formulation of initiatives to

combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, particularly for

high value toothfish species, in the Convention Area, which includes

Australia’s Heard Island and McDonald Islands Exclusive Economic Zone.

 

Parliamentary Secretary for the Antarctic Dr Sharman Stone said the

Australian Government was concerned that the incidence of illegal fishing in

CCAMLR waters was increasing, despite international efforts to combat it.

 

" The Australian Government is strongly committed to eliminating illegal,

unreported and unregulated fishing and has spent millions of dollars on

increased fisheries surveillance and enforcement,'' Dr Stone said.

 

The Australian delegation for the CCAMLR meeting will be headed by Dr Press, Director of the Australian Antarctic Division, and comprises people

from Commonwealth departments and representatives from state and territory

Governments, conservation groups and the fishing industry, who will provide

scientific and policy advice.

 

The Australian delegation will present a series of specific initiatives to

the Commission to combat IUU fishing in the convention area, including:

 

extending CCAMLR's competency to manage the harvesting of toothfish stocks

on the high seas outside the Convention Area;

establishing a centralised vessel monitoring system to be based at the

CCAMLR Secretariat in Hobart; and

strengthening the CCAMLR catch documentation scheme for toothfish.

Dr Stone warned that illegal fishing was rapidly depleting fish stocks as

well as killing thousands of seabirds, including albatross species, through

their activities. Australia would take an international lead in responding

to the threat with initiatives presented at the CCAMLR meeting.

 

CCAMLR meets annually in Hobart.

 

Further information:

Simon Frost (Dr Stone’s office) 0419 495 468

Richard Wilson (Australian Antarctic Division) (03) 6232 3514

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Media Release

The Hon Dr Sharman Stone

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Federal Member for Murray

 

07 February 2002

 

Protection for Patagonian Toothfish following seizure of fishing vessel in

Southern Ocean

The integrity of Australia's sovereignty and the protection of rare and

endangered marine life in the Southern Ocean have been preserved following

the seizure by HMAS Canberra of a suspected illegal fishing vessel in

Australian waters.

 

Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Australia's Antarctic Division, Dr

Sharman Stone, has welcomed yesterday's apprehension of the vessel Lena,

suspected of fishing illegally for Patagonian toothfish in Australia's

fishing zone around Heard Island.

 

The Lena was discovered in the Heard Island region late last year by the

Australian Fisheries Management Authority's patrol vessel Southern

Supporter. The Australian Antarctic Division has worked closely with both

AFMA and the Australian Defence Force to address the threat that illegal and

unregulated fishing pose to our waters.

 

Dr Stone said that while it was disappointing that the Lena had blatantly

returned to the Heard Island waters, she was pleased that this time the

vessel could be returned to Australia to have the charges investigated.

 

" With my responsibilities for Australia's Antarctic interests I believe the

action by HMAS Canberra is vital to protecting the sensitive subantarctic

environment and our Antarctic fisheries resources " , Sharman Stone said.

 

" It sends a strong message to the illegal fishing market, worth $180 million

a year wholesale, much of which ends up in overseas restaurants " .

 

" This has resulted in the near extinction of the Patagonian Toothfish in

waters off South Africa's Prince Edward and Marion Islands. After only 12

months of illegal fishing around these and other sub-antarctic islands,

stocks were devastated " .

 

" Given the long lifespan of the species means that toothfish may not start

breeding until they are 15 years old, illegal and unregulated fishing may

mean that it takes many years before stocks regenerate " .

 

" Our action at Heard Island is part of a much broader campaign by Australia,

along with its partners in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic

Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), to stamp out illegal, unreported and

unregulated fishing which undermines international efforts to manage the

toothfish resource sustainably " Dr Stone said.

 

" In addition, because illegal fishers use long lines indiscriminately, they

are killing seabirds and endangered albatross. We are determined to stop

this practice and will continue to work closely with our international

partners to enhance measures to combat this problem " .

 

Sharman Stone said that Australia takes the protection of its waters from

environmental vandals very seriously.

 

" We are talking about a part of Australia that is very remote from our

shores. But that doesn't mean we don't take action when our environment,

resources and sovereignty are under threat " , Dr Stone said.

 

Contact:

Simon Frost 0419 495 468

Thursday February 7th, 2002

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16 August 1999

 

AUSTRALIA SEEKS INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON ILLEGAL FISHING

Federal Environment and Heritage Minister, Robert Hill, today announced that

he has invited Ministers from other nations with responsibility for CCAMLR

to attend a special meeting in Hobart in October to seek agreement on tough

action to combat illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean.

 

CCAMLR, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living

Resources, manages fishing in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.

 

" Australia and New Zealand have led international efforts to stamp out

illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean which is threatening the very

existence of the Patagonian toothfish, " Senator Hill said.

 

" Some toothfish stocks are already commercially extinct in the area managed

by CCAMLR and further such extinctions are likely in the next year or two

unless CCAMLR takes strong action at its next meeting.

 

" Illegal fishing activities threaten not only toothfish populations but

endangered seabirds, such as albatross, caught by illegal and unregulated

longline fishers.

 

" While CCAMLR has considerably improved controls aimed at reducing illegal

fishing over recent years, Australia continues to be concerned that unless

more stringent measures are put in place this year, we will loose the battle

to save the toothfish from fishing pirates.

 

" Given CCAMLR member countries' dominance of world markets, I am

particularly concerned to see members adopt strict controls to prevent

import of toothfish caught illegally or in a manner that undermines CCAMLR.

 

Senator Hill said that CCAMLR is due to consider new measures at its October

meeting which were developed at a special meeting in Brussels earlier this

year.

 

" However, the draft scheme needs significant changes, including its

application to fishing outside the CCAMLR area, if it is to be effective, "

Senator Hill said.

 

" Further discussions by officials may not resolve the present scheme's

weaknesses, and Ministerial involvement at CCAMLR will enhance development

of effective and timely measures to eradicate the effects of illegal fishing

activities. "