Opponents of supertrawlers in Australian waters are urging the incoming federal government to stick with the current expert study into their potential effects.
The supertrawler, Margiris, was banned by former environment minister Tony Burke, who ordered the prohibition continue until a scientific panel completes its work in a report not due until October 2014.
The incoming parliamentary secretary for fisheries, Richard Colbeck, confirmed he wanted a new scientific survey of the target small pelagic fishery, in addition to the panel's work.
"Once that scientific work has been done, then we will make our decision based on the science," Senator Colbeck told the ABC.
Greenpeace and Environment Tasmania cautioned Senator Colbeck against using the new survey as a stepping stone to overturn the ban.
“Senator Colbeck's support for a new stock survey should raise the antennae of the Australian public, who so strongly rejected supertrawlers last year,” said Greenpeace oceans campaigner Nathaniel Pelle.
Mr Pelle said after leaving Australia the Margiris was now fishing in a small pelagic high seas fishery off Chile, where it also ran into trouble earlier this month.
On calling into the Chile port of Valparaiso it met a protest by local fishermen, and a fire began in fuel on the water around the hull, before the vessel hastily left the port.
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said that in opposition Senator Colbeck strongly backed the supertrawler, and the Coalition had not clarified what action it would take if Seafish was successful in overturning the ban.
Recreational fishers, who backed the Coalition at the election, remain opposed the supertrawler, which they described as "appalling".
"We definitely support the expert panel doing its work," said Allan Hansard, managing director of the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation.
"We want to see good science on stocks, and also on the economic and environmental implications for small communities," Mr Hansard said.
Seafish Tasmania is awaiting an imminent Federal Court decision challenging the ban, and its director, Gerry Geen, has repeatedly said he still wants to fish an 18,000 tonne quota his company holds.
The Margiris's Dutch owner, Parlevliet and Van der Plas, did not respond to a request for comment.
