EXPLOITING TUNA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29772, 15 March 1962, Page 11

EXPLOITING TUNA

10,000-Ton Target (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 14. Pelagic (open or high sea) fishery for school fish was an obvious immediate development in New Zealand, the professor of zoology at Victoria University of Wellington (Professor L. R.' Richardson) said today. Giving evidence before the Parliamentary Committee on the Fishing Industry, he said that with this new development he proposed early targets of 10.000 tons of tuna, 1500 tons of kahawai and 2500 tons of pilchard a year. This would establish canning and supplies of raw material for reduction as fishmeal, fertiliser and similar items. Tuna was a valuable export item. With the recent operation of Japanese fishing vessels in the New Zealand area the country could be satisfied that tuna was a major natural resource.

The returns from crayfishing supported the need for an intensive exploration to establish a prawn fishery on the basis that prawns formed a far greater fishery than crayfish. Likewise, an early full development of the scallop, oyster and paua should take place in terms of overseas demand.

Protest to China.— lndia has protested to Communist China against the incursion into Indian territory by a Chinese patrol, the Prime Minister (Mr Neihru) told Parliament today. The patrol had penetrated 12 miles into India and had later withdrawn, the British United Press reported.—New Delhi, March 14.