[Greens-Media] Greens push for high seas moratorium

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Greens push for high seas moratorium

"While Senator Campbell is flying around the Pacific in a valiant effort
to safe the whales, the Government is failing to act on other equally
important marine issues where it has an opportunity to make a real
impact."

Senator Siewert renewed her calls today for the Australian Government to
back an immediate moratorium on high-seas bottom-trawling, giving her
support to a major new Greenpeace campaign to stop these destructive
practices.

"Australia has gained international respect for its efforts on whaling
and other marine issues," said Senator Siewert, "we have an opportunity
to demonstrate real leadership on this important issue."

The Senate passed a motion last October (by Senator Siewert) that
supported a UN General Assembly resolution demanding urgent action on
bottom trawling in international waters, but the Federal Government has
failed to act.

"We urgently need an interim prohibition to deal with the threat to
deep-sea biodiversity posed by high seas bottom trawling," said Senator
Siewert.

"This would buy us the time we need for sustainable management practices
to be developed and adopted under international law."

 "The destructive power of bottom trawling is beyond belief," said
Senator Siewert. "These massive nets the size of football fields drag
heavy steel rollers along the bottom, smashing corals and sponges and
swallowing everything in their path - It's the clear-felling of the
deep."

"These operations target sea mounts in international waters -
extraordinary isolated and diverse ecosystems that remain largely
unknown to science. We are destroying world's we haven't even discovered
yet," said Senator Siewert, "These ecosystems and the fish stocks they
support are very vulnerable."


For more information or comment call Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025

Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  
http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au

May 31, 2006