Oyster quotas set

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33750, 24 January 1975, Page 16

Oyster quotas set

(.V:?. bress' Association) 1 ! WELLINGTON, j January 22. Foveaux Strait dredge oystermen will have a 115,000-sack quota to fill between March 1 and August 31. The quota and dates for the season have been fixed by the Minister of Agricul-| ture and Fisheries (Mr Moyle). There will be a limit! of 39,000 sacks from the;

eastern beds and 76,000 sacks from the western bed.s. “To spread the fishery, a separate central zone quota of 80.000 sacks has also been set within the total,| with a limit of 35,000 sacks from the ea.stern side of the zone and 45,000 sacks from the western side.” he said. The industry’s request for a seasonal 5000-sack quota [for each boat had been approved, he said. Each of the 23 boats would be restricted 'to 5000 sacks, and when these had been taken the vessel would have to stop dredging for oysters or any I other shellfish for the rest of [the season. A daily limit of 85 sacks will apply to all vessels. This will be reviewed if it appears that because of poor weather the total allowable catch will not be taken before August 31. Bed “A” would remain

i closed this season. Mr Moyle said. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries scientific staff I would continue to observe I the effects on the fishery ol returning shelte to the beds. Preliminary results indicated that returning shells (With small oysters attached ! was helping to increase the number of oysters for future I seasons. “Tagging operations are i still in progress, and if any tagged oysters are found we would like them returned to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries so that the total population available for harvesting can be better estimated.” he said. With simplified control provisions, including the boat and daily quotas, he I hoped the industry could organise its operations to [make oysters available to the public over the whole of jthe season, Mr Moyle said.