Regulations for fish farms

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 1

Regulations for fish farms

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, October 30.

Regulations which will allow the setting up of freshwater fish farms have been approved by the Cabinet, said the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (Mr Carter) today.

The regulations specifically prohibit the setting up of fish farms or related processing plants in Rotorua County or the Taupo trout-fishing district. Fishing and fishout ponds on fish farms are also prohibited.

The regulations cover the farming of brown trout, rainbow or steelhead trout, American brook trout or char, Atlantic salmon, quinnat salmon, sockeye salmon, eels and freshwater crayfish or koura.

Mr Carter said that the regulations were very strict and would give the highest degree of protection to sport fishing in lakes and rivers.

The Ministry’s policing powers were very wide. Mr Carter said. All fish farms must be licensed, and applicants for a licence are required to inform local acclimatisation societies of their intentions, and they must obtain all the necessary rights and authorities to use and discharge water. All farmed fish must be tagged with a coded metal or plastic tag. Farmed fish may be sold only as "whole” fish, gutted and cleaned, but not filleted. For local sales the identification tag must not be removed until the fish is cooked and served. This requirement is designed to prevent the poaching and sale of sporting fish. There are very strict provisions for disease control. All water from a fish farm must be treated before it is discharged. Officers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries are given very wide powers to inspect premises and to take action to prevent the spread of disease. Penalties for offences against the regulations include fines of $5 per fish involved in the breach, and, for serious offences, cancellation of the licence to farm.

Mr Carter said that regulations were being drafted to provide for similar diseasecontrol measures in sporting fish hatcheries and goldfish farms.

Because of the extended disease-control provisions to cover all freshwater fisheries, a scientist with qualifications and experience in parasitology would be appointed to the Ministry, Mr Carter said.

“In drafting these new regulations the Government has constantly borne in mind the need to protect our natural advantages for sport fishing. The regulations that have now been passed are extremely tough and give the Government absolute authority and power over any freshwater fish farm that may be established,” Mr Carter said.