Strait Survey For Pilchards

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30682, 23 February 1965, Page 3

Strait Survey For Pilchards

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 22. Zoologists from Victoria University will carry out a survey of Cook Strait’s fish resources primarily to help in the establishment of a pilchard canning industry for Nelson. A Golden Kiwi scientific research grant of £BOOO has been made available for the survey which Will be conducted by Dr. E. B. Slack, senior lecturer in applied

fisheries, and Dr. J. F. Garrick, senior lecturer in zoology at the university. Dr. Slack said tonight the project would be the first industrial research in the fisheries field carried out by any New Zealand university. A special steel research vessel for Cook Strait has been designed by a naval architect and will be ready for delivery in about four months.

The survey will be an extension of a limited one carried out by the Marine Department in September last year after overseas firms had agreed to establish a canning industry in Nelson if competent biologists reported

favourably on the availability of pilchards. Dr. Slack said the month’s survey had revealed considerable quantities of pilchards, but precise information needed by the industry could not be obtained in the short time.

“Our application for a scientific research grant to carry on the investigation was supported by the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) because of its importance,” Dr. Slack said. “Commercial fishermen in the area are interested to such an extent that they are already reporting to me sightings of fish either at the surface or by echo sounding, for plotting purposes.” New Vessel Dr. Slack said most of the grant would be taken up by the purchase of the new vessel, but about £l7OO would be used for special gear, especially new types of nets. About £lOOO would be used for aerial surveys. Objects of the investigation will be:

To perfect techniques of identification of fish schools. To establish a fish atlas for each month of the year in the area. To find any seasonal migration pattern.

The area will be specially investigated to find if there were definite shoals of pilchards.

The development of midwater trawl methods of catching pilchards commercially will be investigated. “At present fishermen can fish for pilchards only at certain seasons and only on certain nights in those seasons.” Dr. Slack said it was important to find out whether the fish population would stand exploitation, and if so to what level. The Vice-Chancellor of the University (Dr. J. Williams), who announced the grant at a meeting of the University Council today, said the money had originally been granted to a former professor, Dr. L. R. Richardson, for a different purpose altogether.