SHIPS NOT WITHIN THREE-MILE LIMIT

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30666, 4 February 1965, Page 3

SHIPS NOT WITHIN THREE-MILE LIMIT

(New Zealand Preet Association) WELLINGTON, February 3. After investigations of reports that Japanese fishing vessels had been sighted working inside New Zealand’s territorial waters off the Wanganui coast, the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) said tonight the vessel had not been fishing within the three-mile limit.

The investigations were made on reports by a Wanganui fishing boat skipper, Mr B. W. White, that he had seen a Japanese fishing vessel working about a mile and a half off the Wanganui coast.

Mr White, skipper of the Ocean Spray, took a photograph of the vessel. Mr Marshall said the incidents reported by Mr White did not occur within New Zealand territorial waters. He said that the published photograph of the Japanese fishing vessel was said to have been taken outside territorial limits between three and five miles off shore. “It was not alleged that a Japanese fishing vessel was poaching on either of the two occasions reported by Mr White, although he recalled

seeing Japanese fishing boats and their dories close to shore on other occasions," said Mr Marshall. Mr White also complained to the Marine Department of encountering the Japanese fishing vessel without lights at night. Mr Marshall said this report had been drawn to the attention of the Japanese authorities who had undertaken to remind all Japanese fishing boats in this area of their duty to observe the rules of navigation—including the display of proper lights.