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Monday 22 October 2012 THE SUPER TRAWLER  Some believed the "super-trawler" would revolutionise the fishing industry in Australia. Now it sits silent and empty, banned from plying its trade in Australian waters. What went wrong with the grand plan to catch and sell millions of dollars worth of fish internationally and why do the ship's owners feel they've been so badly treated by the Federal Labor Government? Next on Four Corners reporter Marian Wilkinson tells the full story of the negotiations that led an international syndicate to bring the massive trawler, The Margiris, to Australia. She examines the chain of events that forced the Government to change the law and ignore the finding of its key advisory body, so it could address the anger of recreational fishers and environmental groups. According to the owners of The Margiris, they began negotiations with the Australian Fishing Management Authority (AFMA) at the beginning of 2012. When they met with AFMA they came away convinced they had the go ahead to bring their trawler to fish in Australian waters. "Literally what they said, we will back you up no matter what happens, if you follow the rules. And we said we can accept that of course." However Four Corners has discovered that the owners of The Margiris were also trying to buy up additional small fish quotas from Australian fishermen, so they could potentially increase their catch. Despite this, the Minister for Fisheries Joe Ludwig did not seem concerned and continued to allow AFMA to make the running on the issue:    "We will ensure that the Australian Fisheries Management Authority is independent, that it makes independent decisions based on science through its expert commissioners and on the facts that are presented to them." What the company didn't count on was a perfect storm of political protest that brought environmental groups and recreational fishers together in a campaign that threatened to destabilise the Government. What they still can't understand is why the rules were changed effectively banning their ship from working in this country. Key questions remain unanswered. Why did the Minister for Fisheries allow The Margiris to refit in Europe and then sail to Australia, knowing its owners had been given every indication that it would be able to work here, and then change the rules? Why did the Government reject the advice of its independent fisheries regulator, AFMA? Why did AFMA fall silent and why is the management of fisheries, once described by the Minister as "world class", now being completely reviewed? Independent MP from Tasmania Andrew Wilkie, who was a key player in the campaign to stop the trawler, has a damming assessment of the Government and its handling of this very important issue:   "I think they all, for a long while, completely and utterly misread this and they did not understand what a big issue this would be and what a controversial issue it would be."   "The Super Trawler" reported by Marian Wilkinson, presented by Kerry O'Brien goes to air on Monday 22nd October 2012 on ABC 1 at 8.30 pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 23rd October at 11.35 pm. It can also be seen on ABC News 24 at 8.00 pm Saturday, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners .   WATCH A TRAILER ONLINE Four Corners The Stories that Changed Australia: 50 Years of Four Corners From the team behind Australia's premier television current affairs program, Four Corners, comes this landmark book written by some of ABC TV's best journalists. Visit ABC Books for more details. Watch Past Episodes Four Corners presents broadband video available on demand for selected programs. Four Corners on ABC iView Watch Four Corners streamed on-demand and at a high resolution from ABC iview. Four Corners 50 Years Celebrate the rich history of Four Corners: visit our special website, download the free iPad app or buy the ABC DVD Collection. Follow Four Corners on Twitter Become a fan on Facebook Four Corners Home | Newsletter Subscribe or Unsubscribe © 2012 Australian Broadcasting Corporation | Privacy Policy ABC Head Office, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia