Protect the Kakadu of the deep

So what will Australia do at the United Nations in November 2006. So far Australia has not supported the growing number of countries recognising the need and in favour of a moratorium.

The Minister for Fisheries, Senator Abetz tries to reassure us that it’s all under control, because New Zealand, Australia and Chile are working to set up a regional fisheries management agreement for the high seas in the South Pacific. He neglects to mention that Australia and New Zealand have been talking about this for 15 years and formal talks only started this year. It will take years to conclude and certainly can’t be described as “taking urgent action”. Meanwhile the destruction continues.

The Federal Government is yet to agree on a position. Environment Minister Senator Campbell acknowledges the destructive impacts of bottom trawling. And despite Australian science supporting this, government officials in the Department of Fisheries continue to argue that bottom trawling can be done “sustainably”. The facts seem to fly in the face of this claim.

A 2003 Australian study of bottom trawling on seamounts on the high seas just outside Australian waters - South Tasman rise - found that for each tonne of orange roughy an additional 2.5 tonnes of coral were also captured on board the bottom trawl vessels.

Likewise, another study in Australian waters found that unfished seamounts had extensive coral cover whereas on the heavily fished seamounts “data suggest that virtually all coral aggregate, living or dead, was removed by the fishery, leaving behind bare rock and pulverized coral rubble”.

Australia has nothing to lose and a lot to gain by supporting a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling - global co-operation to enforce a ban on destructive fishing practices will also make it easier to fight illegal fishing and will ensure fish are still around for the Australian fishing industry when sustainable methods are developed.

The deep seas deserve a sustainable future. The only effective way to protect deep sea life is a temporary ban on bottom trawling on the high seas while research is carried out and governance arrangements are put in place. Let’s hope there is agreement at United Nations in November 2006, with Australian Government support.

It's time to protect the Kakadu’s of the deep sea.

October 13, 2006 - an update can be found here.