Japanese fish close to coast

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34048, 12 January 1976, Page 7

Japanese fish close to coast

(From Our Own Reporter's GREYMOUTH. Tests indicate that Japanese fishing boats are eight miles, possibly less, from the coast, off Greymouth, apparently infringing the 12-tnile limit. Some reports state that at daybreak the squid-boats can be seen heading directly out to sea, and West Coast fishermen claim that the Japanese are infringing territorial waters. On a recent visit to the West Coast, the Fishing Industry Board’s chairman (Mr Jim Campbell) asked that any proof obtained by West Coast fishermen be channelled through Wellington so that action could be taken. This statement was reiterated by the secretary of the West Coast Fishermen’s Association (Mr Roy Beadle), who said that proof was most important. “I must admit that I am very sceptical about how far out from the shore the boats are fishing, and I know that there are others of the same opinion,” said Mr Beadle. “It was rather obvious that the more prominent of the 30-odd boats that were visible last night were fishing inside the 12-mile limit, according to the chart that we have.”