"Moral Victory” For Oyster Industry

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31783, 13 September 1968, Page 1

"Moral Victory” For Oyster Industry

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, September 12. A Southland oyster merchant today described the announcement by the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) about oyster conservation measures as a “moral victory for the industry and for the Bluff scientist, Mr Martin Toop.

“We’ve been saying for months that the beds are in danger, but the Minister kept saying there were no scientific reasons for believing this, and put off our statements as ‘alleged rumours.' Well, it looks as if he has done an about face,” said the merchant, who said he preferred to remain anonymous “for business reasons." Mr Toop, the Marine Department’s oyster expert who was called to Wellington after making a statement in which he issued a warning about the state of the oyster beds, today declined to comment on the Minister’s announcement He has not made any public comment since his visit to the capital. The oyster merchant said he agreed with the idea of a shorter season and an increased minimum size. “Make no mistake, we want to save these beds—in fact we were just about ready to accept them being closed for a season,” he said. The only thing now giving him concern was Mr Scott’s suggestion that there might be a compulsory return of shell to the beds. “They’ve done this overseas, but I understand the shell has to be steam cleaned first to kill any parasites. Taking back the shell will mean more hours of work for each sack landed, and this will put up the price of oysters.

“If this happens I would say Southlanders can kiss goodbye to the days of oyster-and-chip feeds in newspaper parcels. Oysters will go into the luxury food class, as they are overseas.”