Rules For Farming Rock Oysters

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30626, 17 December 1964, Page 18

Rules For Farming Rock Oysters

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 16. Rock oyster farming regulations which make provision for the grant and administration of leases to permit the use of foreshore and the beds of harbours for the development of rock oyster farms will be gazetted tomorrow.

The regulations are authorised by the recently enacted Rock Oyster Farming Act. The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) said today it was hoped the availability of leases would lead to the establishment of an industry to provide increased supplies of rock oysters for home consumption and for export. The Minister also said the use of suitable areas would be subject to the provisions of the act and the regulations to ensure that the right of

navigation and access to the foreshore was preserved. It was also not intended the erection of the structures necessary for the cultivation of rock oysters should lead to a despoilment of any area. Mr Scott said the regulations provided for the administration of leased areas both in the public interest and in the interest of the prospective industry.

Provision was also made for the protection of the public from contaminated oysters and to ensure that leased areas were effectively used for the production of rock oysters. “There will, however, be no right conferred on any lessee to pick oysters from any natural bed. “The present natural beds will continue to be managed and the picking and marketing of oysters carried out by the Marine Department. “When, in due course, farmed oysters are available in adequate quantities the question of the natural beds will be further considered,” he said.