The export promise of fish

Press, 16 February 1978, Page 14

The export promise of fish

THE export of fish from New Zealand has the potential for enormous growth. The 1977 figure of exports to the value of $50.4 million is about $l3 million higher than the previous year. The value of exports has increased this much each year for several years. The tonnage exported was also higher, at 26.026 tonnes. The potential tonnage from waters in the 200-mile zone for which New Zealand will become responsible early this year is not known. Estimates vary wildly, some being as high as 500,000 tonnes, some half of that The total catch of about 50.000 tonnes by New Zealand has to be seen against the potential and against what is already being taken by foreign fishermen. The most widely accepted figure for annual foreign catch inside New Zealand’s 200-mile zone is about 200,000 tonnes.

The New Zealand fishing fleet is a coastal one. taking the fish close to shore. The increased exports from these heavily-fished species is pleasing, but the potential for growth lies in the deep-sea fishing now done by foreign fishermen Some New Zealand experiments in deep-sea fishing are being conducted. At the moment, however, it may be expected that the South Koreans, the Russians, who appear to be about to accept New

Zealand’s terms for its 200-mile zone, and the Japanese, if they decide after all to admit New Zealand’s agricultural produce, will take the deep-sea fish. They are certainly doing so now. The occasional reports of the large number of foreign fishing boats around New Zealand bear witness to the fact that some nations find that these are profitable waters.

The Government and the fishing industry have been aware of the need to prevent the over-fishing of certain areas as has occurred in the North Sea. There the herring catch by Norway and Iceland in 1966 was almost 2 million tonnes, but by 1973, over-fishing had brought this down to about 190,000 tonnes. The imposing of the 200-mile zone would appear to have come by no means too soon to prevent such exploitation in New Zealand waters. The increasing export earnings from fish lead to a view that New Zealand would do well to continue to expand its fishing fleet. It would also do well to encourage the attitude of mind that it is worth while to bring home a big catch, and should spare no effort to understand the problems of marketing. Once again, when exporting fish New Zealand will have to overcome the limitations on access and the tariff barriers imposed by potential customers.