Fish piling up

Press, 9 June 1978, Page 3

Fish piling up

These were exciting times, but there were difficult periods ahead for New Zealand fishing, said Mr Morris. ■ Catching ability had outstripped the capacity of traditional market outlets, he said. At the end of last month, there was an “alarmingly high” volume of unsold stocks on hand — 4500 tonnes, or 450,000 cartons. “Until such time that new markets are developed at economic prices, the in-be-j tween period is going to be! extremely difficult, and the large stocks being held in New Zealand are as sure a sign as any barometer,” said Mr Morris.

,1 It had been suggested that :I licensed foreign nations • ! should be made to buy tonne ! for tonne from New Zealand exporters, amounts equal to • those they caught in these ■ waters, he said. “As most of the fisheries .agreements are negotiated >1 behind closed doors, we can I' see no reason why the Government could not suggest Ito potential licence holders that next time around, not ; I the least of the conditions ■ j that will be taken into consideration will be the growth “in domestic imports of fishseries products from New II Zealand on their home marjkets.