N.Z. FISHING ‘SOLD DOWN RIVER’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31323, 20 March 1967, Page 1

N.Z. FISHING ‘SOLD DOWN RIVER’

(New Zealand Press Association) NAPIER, March 19. The New Zealand fishing industry was being “sold down the river” by the decision of the Government not to bring a case for the 12-mile fishing limit before the International Court of Justice, the president of the New Zealand Commercial Fishing Boat Owners’ Association, Mr J. D. Olsen, said in Napier yesterday. Mr Olsen said the fishing industry had not been consulted before the decision was made.

“This is the first intimation I. have had that the case was not being proceeded with,” he said. It now seemed inevitable that traditional fishing rights for the Japanese would now be enacted into legislation. “If this is so, why was not an announcement made to the fishing industry on how it should be worked out,” Mr Olsen said. From now on, New Zealand could look forward to an increase in Japanese fishing vessels within the 12-mile limit “Open Sesame” "It will simply be ‘open sesame’ to the Japanese,” he said.

“Surely the industry should be advised. We want to make it clear that the association is not happy and most antagonistic towards a decision without discussion.” Although New Zealand’s relations should not be jeopardised, the fishing industry could not be wholely sacrificed in the interests of the national economy, he said. “We are being sold down the river,” Mr Olsen said. “Before the Government goes any further it must surely discuss it with the whole industry.” Japanese View

In Tokyo, Japan welcomed New Zealand’s proposal to try to reach agreement enabling Japanese vessels to continue fishing, at least for the time being, in its 12-mile fishing limit zone. A spokesman for the Japanese Fishery Agency said the Japanese Government had carefully been studying the new proposal broached by New Zealand through official channels. He said it was desirable for Japan and New Zealand to settle the issue bilaterally

without taking any legal action wfth a view to maintaining friendly relations between the two countries. The spokesman said the way New Zealand would respect traditional fishing rights for Japanese fishermen in the 12-mile fishing zone would be one of the important questions to be discussed further between the two countries.

The Japanese Government still holds the v,iew that under the international law Japan is not bound by the domestic law in New Zealand on the the fishing zone. Japanese fishing boats off New Zealand hauled about

8000 tons of snappers and other fish a year, the spokesman said.