Fed: Labor slams new Customs fishing policy

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2004
Fed: Labor slams new Customs fishing policy

CANBERRA, April 5 AAP - Labor today condemned a move by Customs to ease its policy
on towing illegal fishing vessels to port.

News Limited newspapers today reported leaked documents showing Customs officers operating
in Australia's northern waters had been ordered to confiscate fishing gear and illegal
fish catches rather than seize boats and bring crews into the mainland to face court.

Opposition fisheries spokesman Gavan O'Connor said today the move showed the need for
Labor's policy of a permanent coastguard.

"It is now official government policy to tag and release foreign vessels caught illegally
fishing in Australian waters," Mr O'Connor said in a statement.

"The leaked documents confirm that incursions by foreign vessels, which could be carrying
anything, in our northern waters are out of control and the Howard government has no effective
strategy for dealing with them."

Mr O'Connor said communications logs showed that during a single 36-hour period a week
ago one Navy ship, HMAS Bendigo, reported encounters with seven foreign fishing vessels
just off the north coast.

"It is understood that none were apprehended and towed or escorted into port and only
administrative seizure was applied," Mr O'Connor said.

"The logs show that, in addition to the fish catch, (the vessels) were caught with
quantities of tuna, shark fin, dolphin blubber and a live baby turtle.

"This makes a mockery of Howard government claims that they are protecting the valuable
fish stocks and other species within Australian waters.

"Australia needs a coastguard."

AAP pjo/maur/br

KEYWORD: CUSTOMS LABOR

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