A UKRANIAN super trawler could be on its way to fish in Tasmanian waters within weeks.

Conservation groups have warned the possible arrival of the 4400-tonne Dominican flagged Meridian-1 – which is currently fishing in New Zealand waters – could revive the bitter debate that prompted a temporary federal government ban on the massive ships.

The 104-metre vessel could dodge the two-year federal ban on super trawlers introduced in 2012 because it is shorter than the 130m limit.

The Meridian-1 is awaiting Australian Fisheries Management Authority approval to fish in Australian waters.

The trawler has been chartered by Tasmania’s Petuna Seafoods and NZ’s Sealord to fish for blue grenadier.

The Maridian-1 is roughly half the tonnage of the 142-metre FV Margiris, which was banned from Australian waters in 2012 despite efforts by Tasmanian company Seafish Tasmania to charter the boat to fish for mackerel.

But the Federal Government intervened following a public campaign from an alliance of 20 international, national and local groups including the Tuna Club of Tasmania, Environment Tasmania, Game Fish Tasmania, Greenpeace and the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Environment Tasmania anti-super trawler campaigner Rebecca Hubbard yesterday said conservation groups were concerned about the veil of secrecy that surrounded the ship.

Ms Hubbard said that if Greenpeace had not received a tip-off in NZ, it was unlikely Australians would have found out about the plan.

“The current temporary ban on super trawlers only applies to freezer-factory vessels over 130m in length, yet there is an international fleet of these industrial trawlers, which might be slightly shorter but are equally concerning,” she said.

Petuna Director Les Scott declined to comment but said his company would prepare a media statement today.

Ms Hubbard said that the Meridian-1 had a smaller processing capacity than FV Margiris and would be less of a concern to recreational fishers if it only fished for deep sea blue grenadier.

She said that she understood that the Meridian-1 would have to unload blue grenadier in Tasmania or Victoria because the quota was greater than the ship’s 1100-tonne capacity.