JAPANESE-N.Z. PLAN FOR FISH EXPORTS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31307, 1 March 1967, Page 1

JAPANESE-N.Z. PLAN FOR FISH EXPORTS

A Christchurch-based combined New Zealand-Japanese fishing venture plans to have a modern 350-ton trawler working out of Lyttelton by September. It aims to export fish to Japan, and estimates that within five years this will reach over £1 million worth a year.

The plans of the company were announced last night by one of the joint man-aging-directors, Mr A. B. Dennis, who said they were the result of more than four years of negotiations.

It amounted to a partnership with one of the largest fishing companies in the world, the Taiyo Fishing Company. New Zealand would hold a 51 per cent interest in the venture, and the Japanese 49 per cent “New Zealand is one of the last countries of the world which can provide the type of fish protein demanded by world markets,” Mr Dennis said.

Negotiations,. he said, had been conducted by Mr E. B. E. Taylor a former Ambassa-

dor to Japan, Mr J. S. Pallot, the other joint man-aging-didector, and the other directors of the small pilot company. The modern chartered stern trawler would have the latest electronic fishing gear, with echo sounders fore and aft It would have a New Zealand crew and would fish out of Lyttelton. The combined venture was necessary, Mr Dennis said, because Japanese know-how was essential.

Japanese Knowledge Exports of fish to Japan in the past had failed to meet requirements. But with the technical knowledge of the Japanese, and their quality control methods, It would be possible to catch fish and process them so that they would be suitable for the Tokyo market This nieant that in protein

value, taste and condition, the fish had to be equivalent to fish two hours out of the water. To sell it had to be in perfect condition, undamaged, and have no lack of taste. The trawler would have refrigerator equipment and the fish would be sent to Japan by the Conference Lines, under refrigeration. It would be loaded over New Zealand wharves Mr Dennis estimated that in the first year, £lOO,OOO worth of fish would be exported to Japan and elsewhere.