Reviews & Ratings for the Margiris

Environmental advocacy group Sea Shepherd has released alarming aerial footage depicting a significant discharge of dead fish near the coast of France, prompting widespread public and regulatory concern. Their patrol vessel, 'Age of Union', is actively operating in the Bay of Biscay off La Rochelle, diligently monitoring four factory trawlers to gather evidence of dolphin bycatch incidents. During a recent surveillance operation, the vessel witnessed the release of thousands of blue whiting fish into the ocean. This particular catch was sourced from the 'Margiris', noted as the second largest trawler globally. Sea Shepherd claims that the fish were dumped illegally, whereas the Pelagic Freezer-Trawler Association (PFA), representing the operator of the Margiris, clarified that on February 3 at approximately 5:50 a.m., an incident resulted in an unintentional release of blue whiting due to a rupture in the cod-end portion of the net. This mishap was attributed to the unexpectedly large size of the catch. For more details and photos, visit: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/photos-of-spilled-catch-shock-european-fisheries-regulators.

On February 3, 2022, the 'Margiris' trawler released over 100,000 dead fish into the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 116 nautical miles southwest of Guilvinec, France. This incident has garnered the attention of French Maritime Minister Annick Girardin, who has urged the national fishing surveillance authority to launch a comprehensive investigation into the spill. European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius, is also seeking detailed information regarding this environmental calamity. The unfortunate spill occurred due to a breach in the vessel's net while operating in a fishing zone. As per regulations set by the European Union, the incident has been duly noted in the ship's logbook and reported to Lithuania, the trawler's flag state. Additionally, the quantity of dead fish will be deducted from the 'Margiris’ permitted catch quota. The vessel had been operating just 82 nautical miles southwest of Guilvinec since arriving on January 30, before the spill took place.

On the afternoon of March 6, 2013, at precisely 1:30 PM (CDT), the fishing vessel known as Margiris, previously dubbed Abel Tasman, has officially left Port Lincoln. This move is part of its rebranding to Klaipedia as it seeks new fishing grounds after facing significant hurdles in Australia. Seafish Tasmania had ambitious plans to utilize the vessel to meet their pelagic fishery quota, but widespread community protests followed by intervention from the Australian Government thwarted these plans. The federal environment minister took swift action, issuing an interim declaration that bars Seafish Tasmania from using the Margiris as a trawler and also prohibits its operation as a processing factory ship. This situation has led Seafish Tasmania to incur ongoing costs associated with maintaining the vessel at the Australian dock, prompting the company to pursue legal avenues in response to the government's restrictions. The developments surrounding the Margiris have sparked keen interest among local fishermen, particularly those within the vibrant fishing sector of Port Lincoln, South Australia.