Fishermen Want Patrol Protection Of Grounds

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 12

Fishermen Want Patrol Protection Of Grounds

(New Zealand Press Association)' WELLINGTON, February 17. ’ Wellington fishermen were disgusted at the Government’s handling of Japanese fishermen fishing inside New Zealand waters, the secretary of the Wellington Fishermen’s Union (Mr L. A. Barber) said today.

Other countries such as Iceland fought to protect their fishing resources by taking punitive measures against poachers, he said. “Here the Government is satisfied with issuing a few sweet words.”

“Other countries use their fishery patrols. They apprehend foreign trawlers poaching. The poachers are brought into port, their gear and fish confiscated and their ship is heavily fined,” said Mr Barber. “This is done under internationally recognised law,”, he said. “Here in New Zealand our own fishermen "say they hardly ever see a New Zealand fishing • patrol boat. “Wellington fishermen say they fish regularly between Cook Strait and Cape Kidnappers and Akaroa. On the West Coast they go as far as Wanganui. They seldom see a fishing patrol.” Mr Barber said Wellington fishermen were irate that the Government was failing to take real measures to protect their livelihood. “Once stocks are fished out, as they must be from such intensive fishing so close inshore, fishermen know that fish never return again in

such numbers. Stacks may well be completely wiped out.” ■ He said Wellington fishermen wanted the Government to impose a 12-mile limit or fishing, instead of -the • present three-mile limit.. “International Matter” The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake)' at his press conference tonight refused to comment on the criticism. “This is an international matter for .discussion at international levels at conferences and between governments,” Mr Holyoake said. .“In all this hurly-burly some countries are determined to declare unilaterally a 12-mile limit to their territorial waters. Others are going along with the 12-mile limit and are proposing special arrangements for waters between 6 and 12 miles for those who have traditionally fished these waters. “These and many other matters are being discussed. I would think that this would take some considerable time in the various forums in which they are being discussed today.”