INDONESIANS SEEK FISHERIES HELP

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 18

INDONESIANS SEEK FISHERIES HELP

Indonesians caught 1.2 million tons of fish a year but with improved fishing facilities could catch seven million tons, said X ice-Admiral Nizam Zachmann, Director-General of Fisheries for the Indonesian Government, in Christchurch yesterday.

Indonesia is seeking capital to provide engines in fishing vessels, and to buy refrigerating plant, and wants New Zealand to invest in the Indonesian fishing industry. "We have an application lodged for a loan of SUS6Om from the World Bank and we have also approached the Asian Development Bank for credit,” Admiral Zachman said. Indonesian fishermen commonly had sailing vessels; motorised boats would make the industry that much more efficient Indonesia had an abundance of wood for building fishing vessels of up to 100 ft and more, said the Admiral. Fish lasted only about six hours in the tropics. More refrigeration plant, on boats and ashore, was essential. Indonesia would welcome joint ventures by New Zealand companies in boat-build-ing and refrigeration equipment factories, but Indonesia wanted New Zealand to provide the capital. Admiral Zachman said that last year Indonesia exported SUSBOm worth of fish — shrimp, tuna and prawns — to Europe, Japan, and the United States. There were crayfish in Indonesian waters but they were widely spread and not found in any great concentration.

The Admiral visited the boat-building shop of C. W. F. Hamilton Marine, Ltd. and saw two types of jet boats being built for Indonesia — those for oil companies and for hotels.

Three Hamilton jet boats have already been delivered to Indonesia. Four more have been ordered for delivery this year, and five more will probably be delivered next year. The firm is also investigating a joint venture in boat-

building in Surabaya, Indonesia’s main trading port. Admiral Zachman said he was still in the Indonesian Navy but had been “on loan” to the Fisheries Department for the last five years.

“TOO FRAGMENTED' “Our fishing industry is too fragmented,” he said. “The Government will lay down rules in a development plan to be financed by foreign in-

vestment and credit. As the fishermen catch more because of better facilities provided they will earn more money for more improvements.

“The Indonesian Government does not want to run the industry. There is a great need for improvement and a great avenue of profit for those who invest because of the potential of the industry,” sa ; d Admiral Zachman.