Bega Valley Shire Council passed a motion on Wednesday opposing the use of super trawlers such as the controversial Geelong Star along the Far South Coast.

The motion, proposed by Greens councillor Keith Hughes, called on council to write to Liberal Member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy to request he oppose the continued presence of the vessel in the shire and oppose its return at any time in the future.

The motion also called for council to write to Bega state MP Andrew Constance to thank him for his opposition to the vessel and request he initiate action by the state government to protect NSW small pelagic fisheries and marine life.

Councillors voted in favour of the motion – 5-2, with two absent – but opted to change the word “condemn” to “oppose”.

A packed public gallery listened to deputations from eco-tourism operator Sven Helland and recreational fisherman Greg McKay, warmly applauding as they put their arguments.

Thursday saw a national day of action against super trawlers with members of the community handing a petition containing over 100 local businesses supporting a ban to Dr Hendy’s Bega office staff.

“I’m hoping that we see an exponential growth in support of this and raise public awareness,” Mr Helland said on Thursday outside Dr Hendy’s office.

“Our fisheries and unique marine life is being traded for the profits of a foreign factory trawler and our local communities are being failed by the government.”

Local businesses to have signed the statement range from holiday accommodation and retail stores to real estate agencies and construction companies.

“For me personally I am an accountant and from a financial point of view this makes no sense,” Tom Scott from the Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club said on Thursday.

“From what I can see there’s a few hundred thousand to be made from licences, the rest will go overseas and we get nothing out of it as Australian taxpayers.”