Oyster Fishing Continuing?

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32050, 26 July 1969, Page 1

Oyster Fishing Continuing?

■»■■■■■ *V- ■ . <New Zealand Prejj Aeaedatian) INVERCARGILL, July 25. Oystermen may still be working the Foveaux Strait oyster beds—mostly for a quick snack at sea, but occasionally for sale to others.

Today a Stewart Island resident, a fish retailer and a member of the Seamen’s Union all said that people might be taking oysters illegally. "I know a couple of young fellows who have tried, out I don't know whether they got anything,” said a Stewart Island man. He said that the main beds were forbidden to these people, but small beds round Port Adventure and other points on the island coast were possible sources of oysters. An Invercargill fish retailer said some fishermen were taking out small dredges when they went wet fishing and dredging up "enough oysters for a feed.” Christchurch lieport Christchurch newspapers carried a report today- froma Christchurch man who said he had bought six dozen fresh dysters in Invercargill this week. > A Seamen’s Union member said he, too, had haff freffl oysters in recent weeks—rock Oysters which he ate on a rdcent trip to Stewart Island. To the suggestion that wfet fishing boats were -taking a few oysters from, round the beds, he said: "That’s quite likely, too.”' The district fisheries inspector for the Marine Department said tonight that the department had no knowledge of anyone taking oysters from Use beds. “The season is closed;’’ Mr S. Jones said. He said that taking Foveaux Strait oysters was an offence,

whether for sale or consumption.

But another member of. the Marine Department said that if anyone was taking oysters to eat at sea, there was little hope of finding out' about it or proving it. “But if they were to sell them, we would almost certainly catch them,” he said.