Fishing Extensions Outlined By Minister

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32233, 27 February 1970, Page 14

Fishing Extensions Outlined By Minister

fftew Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 26. Fish fanning would play an increasingly important role in New Zealand’s fishing industry, the Minister of Marine (Mr McCready) told the Levin Chamber of Commerce tonight. There were possibilities of establishing a pilchard fishery in the Marlborough Sounds-Tasman Bay area.

He hoped an economic industry could soon be based on pelagic fish resources. The rock-oysVer fanning industry in northern waters was expanding rapidly. Farming of mussels had started; the indications were that this would be a successful activity. “Interest in being shown in the farming of dredge oysters in Stewart Island; this activity is expected to start once the administrative procedures have been finalised.” Mr McCready said. Speaking on crayfish, the Minister said that the Chathams boom appeared to have declined: but he said; “With proper management and improvements in the quality of export crayfish tails, the prosperity and well being' of this industry should be guaranteed for many years to come.” Other industry developments of the future were prawn fishing and the possibility of establishing of crab-

1 meat industry based on the i Auckland Islands. 1 “If . hopes are realised, : there, will be a keen demand for crab meat both on the domestic and overseas marfikets," he said. s Mr McCready said the New . Zealand fishing industry had 1 been fairly dormant until s about the time when the 1962 - committee of inquiry to the industry was set up and Japi anese fishing boats appeared ■ off the New Zealand coast. ■ “The industry received imt petus from the appearance of . the Japanese trawlers. This • posed both a challenge to local industry and a con- . vincing demonstration that re- . sources did exist for those > with the will and the means [ to harvest them.” Another factor in the indus- ' try starting to go ahead was - the abolition of licensing in ; favour of a system of regisI tration. “This more than any other ■ one single action provided i the impetus for the expansion ■ and development of the in- • dustry,” the Minister said.