Squid boats out in force

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 2

Squid boats out in force

(.Vcui Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 29. j The size of the Japanese squid fleet fishing ofl' New Zealand is expected to double in the next month. A statement issued today' by the Japanese Embassy said , the fleet, now 70 vessels, was p xoected to increase to about 150. The squid season, from December to April, has attracted increasing numbers l iof Japanese boats for several , years. Fish was a most important item in the Japanese diet, the I Embassy said. The Govern-

unent of Japan placed great .importance on fisheries and, from a long-term viewpoint, was concentrating its efforts on the development and conservation of fishery resources, while maintaining a balance between the two. The Fisheries Agency of Japan has sent Mr Michie Hashimoto to New Zealand as supervisor and inspector of the fleet. Mr Hashimoto arrived at I Wellington at the end of last week. He will board a fishing 1 boat at the end of this month, and will remain at sea until the end of March. He will check the area in which each squid boat is working, and will also instruct on and control safety

11precautions during fishing. , I Because of the world fuel . situation and the resultant > I inability of the vessels to - obtain bunkering oil in New -Zealand. Japan, with the i approval of the New Zealand ; Government, has arranged I for fuel supplies to be stored yin New Zealand. I The first tanker from Japan will arrive on February 2 with 5500 tons of buni kering oil. During the season t there will be three deliveries ; of oil from Japan, a total of , 15.000 tons. I| This bunkering oil will be stored in Wellington and i Lyttelton and. though some > oil may be required by the • fleet during the season, the Hmain purpose will be to en-

able the 150 vessels to refuel before their return to Japan. Should New Zealand wish to develop the taking of squid by local fishermen and to export catches to Japan, the Government of Japan would be happy to pass on its special knowledge of squid fishing, the Embassy said. A Japanese squid-fishing expert would visit New Zealand about mid-February, and New Zealand fishermen would be welcome to board a Japanese squid-boat. Alternatively, the New Zealand fishing industry could work its own vessel alongside the Japanese squid fleet, assisted by the expert, the Embassy said.