Freezer factory fishing trawler Geelong Star slips off the radar

Where has the freezer factory ship Geelong Star disappeared to?

Factory fishing trawler Geelong Star has disappeared from Australian waters.

THE controversial fishing trawler Geelong Star has left Australian waters after 18 months.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) confirmed the vessel was no longer under Australian jurisdiction.

“Inquiries about the decision to leave Australian waters or future fishing operations of the Geelong Star, should be directed to the operator,” AFMA said.

AFMA said the Geelong Star was not subject to any investigation by AFMA for breaches of Commonwealth fishing regulations.

The supertrawler killed nine dolphins and a number of seals was subjected to fishing bans when it first started fishing in Australian waters.

The previous vessel known as the Margiris, faced huge opposition from the recreation fishing and conservation movements.

A shiptracker website Marinetraffic revealed that the Geelong Star was off South Africa in late October.

The Geelong Star was the subject of a Senate inquiry. It is expected to lodge its report tomorrow.

Greens spokesman for Healthy Oceans, Peter Whish-Wilson welcomed the news that the factory-freezer vessel had left Australian waters.

He said the situation was bizarre with no word on when it left, where it is had gone or if it was coming back.

“This has come totally out of the blue. I definitely welcome the news. I don’t want these large factory fishing vessels operating in the small pelagic fishery in Australian waters at all.

“It’s not good enough … AFMA should be upfront to the Australian people about whether the Geelong Star is coming back,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.

Selfish Tasmania director Gerry Geen was unable to be reached.