GOVERNMENT SHELVES TROUT FARMING

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32035, 9 July 1969, Page 1

GOVERNMENT SHELVES TROUT FARMING

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 8. The Government is to shelve for the meantime proposals to introduce commercial trout-farming in New Zealand. The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) said today he was about to recommend to the Government that it defer any further consideration of the commercial farming of trout until next year. Studies could be revived in 12 months, he said. Mr Scott said that the

postponement was because of the heavy programme of work on other fisheries, particularly oysters and Chatham Islands crayfish, at present facing himself and his department Draft regulations which would have authorised a start on trout-farming under carefully-controlled conditions and In accordance with recommendations of a Parliamentary Select Committee seven years ago, was recently prepared and circulated to interested part les, particularly in the Ro-torua-Taupo region. Mr Scott said he was aware

of the reported intention of an American firm to set up a pilot company in New Zealand to examine trout farming. But It could only be a “pilot” venture in terms of finance, because of the lack of legal authority for trout-fishing. Under the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations, 1951, it remains an offence to sell, expose or. offer for sale, buy, or possess for purposes of sale any acclimatised fish, inchiding trout The offences carry on conviction liability for a fine of up to $lOO.