[1] In 2010 the company ceased its operation of small fishing vessels claiming the venture was not profitable, attempting in 2012 to fish Australian waters using super trawlers, large factory ships owned by Dutch company Parlevliet & van der Plas with the ability to freeze catches onboard, requiring less returns to shore.

[6] The super trawler FV Margiris, at the time the second largest fishing vessel in the world, was brought into Australian waters in 2012 and renamed Abel Tasman.

Senator Eric Abetz said he believed Seafish Tasmania would be able to claim damages due to the decision to ban their trawler from operating.

[9] The company attempted to challenge bans on super trawlers in the Federal Court of Australia,[10] resulting in their application being dismissed with costs.

[15] On 25 December 2016, a former managing director of Seafish Tasmania, Joseph Pirrello, was arrested on allegations of importing cocaine worth an estimated $360 million into Australia.