Environmentalists are warning a Ukrainian factory trawler more than 100 metres long could soon be fishing in Australian waters.
An alliance of green groups that successfully fought the use of the Dutch super-trawler Margiris says two applications have been made to use overseas-flagged vessels.
They say one is for the 104.5m Meridian-1, a factory trawler based in New Zealand.
The ship could beat a two-year ban on super-trawlers introduced in 2012 because it is shorter than the 130m prescribed by the previous federal government.
"There is an international fleet of these industrial trawlers which might be slightly shorter but are equally concerning," Environment Tasmania's Rebecca Hubbard said in a statement.
The applications are believed to be to fish a quota of blue grenadier, also known as hoki.
Greenpeace campaigner Nathaniel Pelle said, despite Ukrainian ownership, the Meridian-1 sailed under the flag of the Dominican Republic and was registered to an owner in Vanuatu.
He said such flags of convenience were used to pay crew less and avoid fishing regulations.
"The 'convenience' in this case refers to the fact that the 'flag' state is usually one that doesn't care what they catch, how they catch it, how they treat their crew, or the safety standards of the ships," Mr Pelle said.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority told Fairfax Media it was unable to release the names of the ships in the applications.
Green groups want a permanent ban on super-trawlers after a storm of protest sent the Margiris back to the Netherlands.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said the ban on the 142-metre ship will remain.
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