CRAYFISH TAILS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30483, 3 July 1964, Page 12

CRAYFISH TAILS

Limit On Size Relaxed (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 2. Because wholesalers now hold a surplus of under-sized crayfish tails, the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) has relaxed the prohibition on the export of under-sized crayfish from the Otago area. The change applied from yesterday. Mr Scott said tonight that wholesalers had had 20 tons on hand, were finding it difficult to sell the small sizes in New Zealand and would have had to stop buying from fishermen. Last year’s catch in the Otago district was 800,0001 b of crayfish of which 200,0001 b were sold on the local market. Mr Scott said he expected the catch to be similar this year and although the local sales might be doubled, there could still be a surplus of small sizes.

Factories are required to tail and pack the crayfish under Marine Department supervision and the authority to export all sizes from the catch will apply throughout July. Mr Scott said he would then review the position from month to month, and that next month he might limit exports to 75 per cent of sales. There was an understanding with the wholesalers that the local market must be met first.