Motunau River bar hinders fishing

Press, 1 November 1978, Page 5

Motunau River bar hinders fishing

If a bar at the mouth of the Motunau River is not cleaned, fishing in the area will cease, according to a Christchurch fishing firm. Peninsula Fisheries, Ltd, is concerned that unless the Government helps pay for the bar cleaning, fishing at Motunau will be uneconomic. It told a Hurunui County Council meeting recently that operating costs in the area were already high. "Because of the bar at the mouth of the Motunau River, only small vessels can fish, with the result that both fishermen and processors are faced with a proposition that is not

really viable,” the firm said. Cr S. J. S. Barker said it was getting easier for boats from Kaikoura and Lyttelton to cover the Motunau area. "If something is not done, the Motunau port could be wiped out. If we don’t co-operate with these people, in a very short time we won’t know them,” he said. The council decided to approach the Fishing Industry Board to see if it had levy money available for the development of small ports. If the board had money available, the council said it w'ould arrange a public meeting to discuss the Motunau port.