Research To Increase Value Of Flounders

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31062, 18 May 1966, Page 1

Research To Increase Value Of Flounders

The Marine Department is to take its research on flounders a step further by trawling for them and tagging them in and around Lyttelton and Timaru harbours. Research has been going on at the Fisheries Research Laboratory in Christchurch for the last two years to ascertain how the commercial value of flounders can be fully exploited.

Commercial fishermen have co-operated by returning tagged fish to the department for examination. One tagged flounder which had been released outside Lyttelton was later caught by fishermen off the Otago heads. They have also helped by hiring their vessels to the Marine Department, which has used special nets to catch the flounders. Valuable information on the feeding habits, spawning and movements of flounders has already been obtained.

Some 16,000 flounders have been tagged in the Lyttelton, Akaroa, and estuary areas. Many more are to be tagged during the next 12 months to obtain further information about rate of growth and age. To do this, the department

will charter more fishing vessels for three consecutive days each month. Initially, the department will use the normal fishing gear on the chartered boats, but may replace it with special nets which no-one else is legally permitted to use. Trawling for flounders in harbours is also forbidden to anyone but the department.