Korean overtures on fishing

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 3

Korean overtures on fishing

PA Wellington South Korea has promised co-operation with New Zealand in sharing fisheries research results and has offered two berths to New Zealand scientists in a sophisticated research ship due at Wellington in the middle of June. The Minister of Fisheries (Mr Bolger) gave thijs news yesterday after talks with Korean officials. New Zealand fisheries officials are still waiting for details of the research ship’s programme but they said it was likely they would take up the offer to have New Zealand scientists aboard. The ship, the Odae San Ho, will be one of 10 South Korean vessels working off the New Zealand coast. The Korean officials said that six were already here and four including the Odae; San Ho, were on the way. New Zealand has not had scientists aboard Korean vessels before.

Mr Bolger said that he had had a general discussion

with the Korean delegation,headed by the Director-Gen-eral of the Office of Fisheries in Seoul, Mr Shin TaeYong, on New Zealand’s declaration of a 200-mile zone and the question of joint ventures.

South Korea is interested in joint ventures with New Zealand firms but wants a higher financial share than the 24.9 per cent now allowed for foreign participation. The Koreans also want to use their own vessels and crews. New Zealand-registered vessels and crews must be used under the present rules for joint ventures. In talks with New Zealand officials, the Koreans were given an explanation of the 200-mile economic zone legislation introduced in Parliament last week. One of the questions they raised was whether New [Zealand would “throw the | book” at Korean fishing ves-

)sels under stern penalties I provisions which enable the |master and crew members to [be prosecuted for any (breaches.

But New Zealand officials indicated that the present practice of prosecuting only the master would be followed. Mr Bolger said that the Koreans accepted the inevitability of the 200-mile zone and realised that they would have to negotiate for a share of the allowable catch. He told journalists in answer to a question, that there had been no suggestion of linking South Korean access to the 200-mile zone with the question of getting access to South Korea for New Zealand beef — as New Zealand is doing with Japan. Mr Bolger said each country wanting to negotiate fishing rights would be treated individually. “Our single object is to get the best possible deal for New Zealand,” he said. Mr Bolger said he had received.- no approach from Taiwan so far on negotiations for access to the 200mile zone. “I don’t know how they , would approach us,” he said. ■ Taiwan has no diplomatic relations with New Zealand.