A group of Tasmanian fishermen frustrated by what they say is a lack of action by the federal government to limit the operations of super-trawlers, plan to register their own political party and take their fight to Canberra.
Hobart-based Kevin Harkins on Thursday revealed plans to form the Australian Recreational Fishers Party in preparation to run upper house candidates at the 2016 federal election.
"Tony Abbott doesn't seem to care about the level of community opposition to super trawlers so this is the next step we are trying to get him to listen," Mr Harkins told AAP.
"It's going to be a political lobby group but we are going to register as a political party and if we don't get adequate change before the next election we will consider running candidates."
Mr Harkins is confident the group will attract the 550 members needed to register the party, with some 120,000 recreational fishers in Tasmania.
"We are determined to do whatever it takes to secure the future of the recreational fishing industry in Tasmania," he said.
The move comes after Seafish Tasmania in April contracted 95-metre factory fishing trawler, the Geelong Star, to operate in waters off Western Australia.
The vessel is under the 130-metre federal government limit on trawlers and is permitted to catch 16,500 tonnes of red bait, jack mackerel and sardines.
Mr Harkins said he and his colleagues do not believe claims by super trawler operators that their hauls are for human consumption, instead believing they are used as feed.
He wants to see legislation that imposes limits on a number of super-trawler practices, not just the size of the ship.
The federal government has defended the current limits on trawlers and says the Geelong Star meets each requirement.
Stop The Super Trawler rallies will be held over the weekend in Hobart and near Launceston, calling for stricter government regulation.
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