Fish prices up

Press, 3 May 1977, Page 1

Fish prices up

PA Wellington The ' Government has approved increases in the price of fish ranging from 25 to 30 per cent in most areas.

The prices will take effect tomorrow and the details will be gazetted on Thursday. The Acting Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Wilkinson) said last night that the prices of the more popular species of fish had been subject to control by regulation for more than four years. The only increases that had been permitted had been minimal allowances to recompense the catching side of the industry for some specific cost increases such as fuel. It was essential for the development of the indus-

try for domestic prices to be set at an economic level, said Mr Wilkinson. At the existing prices, the industry had been able to achieve economic returns only on the export market and this had resulted in supply difficulties on the domestic market.

The new prices had been calculated to reflect the present costs of supplying fish to the domestic market to ensure adequate supplies. At the same time, domestic prices for most popular species of fish were still significantly below export prices, he said. Mr Wilkinson expected that the price increases would be less than 25 to 30 per cent in some areas, because prevailing retail prices had been above the controlled prices.