Crayfishing by Bluff oystermen opposed

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 3

Crayfishing by Bluff oystermen opposed

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 16. Bluff oystermen should not be allowed to go crayfishing in the offseason until the Fisheries Committee had fully investigated the economics of the crayfishing industry, Mr S. A. Whitehead (Lab., Nelson) said in Parliament today. Mr Whitehead, speaking during the second reading debate on the Fisheries Amendment Bill, said that by licensing the oyster industry the Government had made this a privileged industry which was a profitable proposition. The bill repeals a prohibi-I tion preventing oyster fishermen crayfishing in the closed season for oysters, and also repeals an exemption allowing debris from mining claims to be deposited into rivers without it being regarded as pollution. Mr Whitehead moved an amendment that the second reading of the bill be deferred for three months, or until such time as the Fisheries Committee had reported its findings on the crayfish industry. He said oysterboat crews were well paid for their season of just over six months, which fitted in well with the killing season at the freezing works to allow them alternative employment. The gross return to the average oyster boat skipper in 1968 was $3845, he said. The new regulations prohibiting the disposal of waste from mining claims into rivers would make it more difficult for companies willing to come to New Zealand to recover New Zealand minerals. It could be a breach of faith in making it more difficult for these people to operate, he said. The Minister of ‘ Marine (Mr McCready), moving the second reading, said oyster-

men had a historic right to go crayfishing. They had done this in all years except last year, which was the first time they had been precluded by the law from doing so. In past years only about half of the Foveaux Strait oysterboats had moved to the crayfishing ground in the off-season. The Under-Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture (Mi Dick), who is chairman of the Fishing Industries Committee said the small number of oyster boats would make little difference to the crayfishing industry. But Sir Basil Arthur (Lab., Timaru), maintained that the

I legislation was bad in principle because it was prejudging the report of the Fishing Industry Committee. Mr G. Christie (Lab., Napier), said the oystermen wanted the best of both worlds. They already had the oysters and now they wanted the lucrative crayfish. In the closed season they could go line fishing or trawling in the sheltered bays at the tip of the South Island. Another possibility was to work in the freezing works, where provision was made for oystermen on the chains The debate was interrupted when the House adjourned at 4 pjm