Fishing industry’s growth hindered

Press, 19 October 1977, Page 13

Fishing industry’s growth hindered

Wellington reporter Delays in overcoming many of the constraints preventing the fishing industry from developing at a rate which matches its potential have been of continuing concern to the Fishing Industry Board. In its annual report to

Parliament, the board listed six problems:— Undue pressure on New Zealand’s fish resources because of excessive foreign fishing activity; Trade barriers hindering access for New Zealand products and hampering the development of new and profitable markets; Slowness in developing management regimes which will conserve New Zealand fish resources and at the same time protect and maintain the conomics of the industry; Delays in providing appropriate incentives to encourage the industry to ddevelop; An apparent unawareness of the adverse effect on the industry’s expansion plans of arbitrary measures introduced to protect other sections of the community at the expense of the fishing industry, such as price control of fish; and Insufficient funding of organisations such as the Fishing Industry Board, whose main function is to assist the industry to realise its full potential rapidly.

The board had consistently called for the development of a co-ordi-nated planning mechanism to create an appropriate framework, around which the industry could develop, and, where necessary, be assisted to develop, the report said.

Such planning required input from many quarters — the Government, its agencies, the industry, and the board, and no single group could develop the plan in isolation. “We regret that such a plan does not exist,” the board said.

Fortunately, there was an increasing awareness of the fishing industry’s potential being shown within Government circles. The board hoped that many of the actions it had been advocating might be taken soon.

Too few of these actions had been taken in 1976-77, and this had effectively hindered the rapid development of the industry during the period under review, the report said.

More money for market development, research and promotion in the fishing industry was called for. Improving processing technology by upgrading quality and assisting in new product development, particularly as it applied to the use of less familiar species of fish, was also sought. Exploratory fishing and the introduction of new gear technology were also needed, as was greater involvement with all sectors of the fishing industry, particularly in training and providing practical advice the report said.