Fish data scheme to be explained

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33370, 31 October 1973, Page 16

Fish data scheme to be explained

Details of the new system of collecting information about the size and content of catches will be explained to fishermen of Kaikoura, Lyttelton, Akaroa and Timaru between November 5 and 16 by a visiting team of four members of the fisheries management and research division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Eleven other teams will be covering the rest of New Zealand’s ports at the same time. Background information will be available for the fishermen. Displays have been prepared to demonstrate the value to the fishermen’s prospects of the additional data required under the fisheries data collection scheme announced last month by the Undersecretary for Agriculture and Fisheries (Mr Barclay). The district inspector of fisheries (Mr R. V. Reid) said

yesterday that the scheme would allow a detailed study of fish distribution and catch size. “We are also interested in seeing exactly which fish the fishermen throw back as rubbish. We might be able to find a market for these fish,” he said. Mr Reid said that the Ministry was open to suggestions for improving the scheme and anxious to con{vince fisherman of the advantages to be had from {filling out the new four-page monthly return forms.