Deep-Sea Fish Export Hope

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 1

Deep-Sea Fish Export Hope

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, August 28.

New Zealand’s best hope of expanding its fishing industry lay in pelagic fishing but the country was not equipped for it and had little experience, the National Development Conference was told today by Mr H. G. Callam, chairman of the fisheries committee.

Of the $9 million earned by fish exports in the last year, $7.1 million came from crayfish, mainly sent to the United States and mainlv because of the Chatham Islands catch, he said.

It was expected that once the older crayfish were removed from the islands there would be a decline. However, the fishing committee was prepared to accept the export targets of slsm for 1972-73 and s2sm for 10 years hence, he said.

Japan had been taking about 6000 tons of snapper each year from New Zealand waters. As Japanese fishing was phased out. New Zealand should be able to find a market in Japan for similar quantities. and that alone would almost double the exports of wet fish.

There were other possibilities in the Japanese market besides snapper. The United States also offered an extensive market for fish other than crayfish. For any massive expansion, the industry had to look to pelagic fisheries —to the tuna, kahawai, pilchards and other species living on the surface or in mid-water.

First, it had to be ascertained that the resources existed, and then if there was a market for them. “If we take the risks we must be prepared to spend a great deal of money and may have to consider allowing out-

siders a share in any rewards,” he said. “If we do not take the risks we may have to be content with a relatively modest fishing industry and run the chance of seeing foreigners harvesting the seas around us,” said Mr Callam.