With news overnight that Japan’s new plan for killing 4000 whales in the Southern Ocean has been rejected by an Expert Panel of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the Greens spokesperson for Whaling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, is calling on the Australian Government to publicly rebuke Japan for rejecting the IWC advice and pushing ahead with its whaling plans.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Japan first thumbed their nose at the International Court of Justice verdict and now they are thumbing their nose at the IWC Expert Panel.

The Greens spokesperson for Fisheries, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, congratulates Sea Shepherd for the success of Operation Icefish, a campaign to disrupt the Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing by organised crime gangs in the Southern Ocean waters surrounding Antarctica.

Today the Greens stood with other Senators to introduce a seafood labelling Bill into Parliament that will deliver better outcomes for consumers, the local seafood industry, and our marine environment said the Fisheries spokesperson for the Greens, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

The Greens spokesperson for Fisheries, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, has welcomed the Senate voting to establish an Inquiry into the sustainability of Tasmania’s salmon farms.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “This Inquiry will help shine some light on some of the murky information that has recently surfaced regarding the sustainability of salmon farms in Tasmania.

The Greens spokesperson for Fisheries, Senator Whish-Wilson, has put forward a motion in the Senate to establish an Inquiry into the sustainability, impacts and regulation of Tasmania's fish farms.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, "The leaked reports and emails about the de-oxygenation of Macquarie Harbour was a wake-up call about the potential impacts of this industry on marine ecosystems and raises questions on the future sustainability of fish farming in Tasmania.

Greens spokesperson for Fisheries, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, applauds the overnight decision in the United States to ban new commercial fisheries for small bait-fish on the US Pacific Coast.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Federal fisheries managers in the United States have unanimously voted to adopt a ban on new commercial fisheries for small fish like sardines unless they can demonstrate that there is no impact on local ecosystems.

Greens spokesperson for Fisheries, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, welcomed the arrival of the ACV Ocean Shield to Hobart today.

Senator Whish-Wilson said “The ice-rated $150 million ACV Ocean Shield was purpose-built to patrol in environments like the Southern Ocean.

“We hope it is on the way to the Southern Ocean to provide the patrols it was promised to do.

In line with No Shark Cull Rallies across the country Greens Senator spokesperson on marine issues Rachel Siewert has today announced a notice of motion that will condemn new Serious Threat Guidelines of the Western Australian Government.

"The first week back in the Senate we are moving to highlight that in Western Australia the move towards a revised catch and kill policy is just as indiscriminate and as nonsensical as hanging hooks along our coast throughout the summer.

The Greens spokesperson for Fisheries, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson is calling on the Australian government to immediately deploy the Customs vessel ACV Ocean Shield to intercept the two pirate vessels currently illegally fishing off the coast of Australian Antarctic Territory.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “It is not good enough that the Sea Shepherd has had to, yet again, do the Government’s job.