Small Crayfish Tails For Export

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30498, 21 July 1964, Page 3

Small Crayfish Tails For Export

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, July 20. After more than six months of export prohibition small locally caught crayfish tails can now be shipped overseas by Otago exporters.

Last November the Government announced a ban on the export of tails under six inches which hid been landed at Otago east coast ports. Instead of being exported it was intended these small crayfish should be packed whole in consumer packs for distribution throughout New Zealand and especially in the North Island.

But the response in the New Zealand market to this scheme has been so poor that wholesalers are faced with the prospect of not accepting any more small crayfish from local fishermen. Rather than have local fishermen tie up their boats the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) has permitted the export of the small tails. But the Marine Department

is making certain these crayfish are from Otago east coast ports and not undersize tails from the West Coast where the six-inch tail is a minimum size.

All locally caught crayfish with tails under six inches have to be tailed under the supervision of a Marine Department inspector. When the Marine Department is unable to supply the necessary, supervision, meat inspectors, usually employed at the freezing works, are used.