Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 13 July 2012:

(1) Will the Government or department provide a guarantee that the FV Margiris will not fish the high-seas, outside Australia's 200 mile nautical boundary where it can operate without prudent controls, before, after, or during, the time the boat is flagged in Australia.

(2) Is the Government or the department aware of any subsidies, direct or indirect, that the owners of the FV Margiris may be receiving from the European Union to help fund the operations of the boat while it is fishing in or transiting through Australian waters.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the Senator's question is as follows:

(1)In most cases only the flag-state of the boat can control its operations on the high seas. If the boat is flagged to Australia, it will be treated the same as any other Australian fishing boat. That is, the same rigorous controls will apply to the FV Margiris as apply to any other Australian fishing boat fishing on the high seas.

(2)No