Recreational vessels have joined fishing boats as their crews voiced their disapproval of the FV Margiris, which is due to start fishing in Australian waters later this month.
Many of the boats bore anti-trawler banners as recreational fishers joined environmentalists in an alliance to stop the 142-metre factory ship.
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Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson was aboard one of the boats, while a petition of more than 30,000 signatures will be presented to Labor senator Lin Thorp later on Saturday.
The Dutch-owned Margiris will fish for a quota of 18,000 tonnes of redbait and jack mackerel.
Operators Seafish Tasmania say the quota will be strictly policed and the trawler will inject $10 million to $15 million into the Tasmanian economy.
