Nelson fishermen want snapper catch limits

Press, 22 November 1978, Page 10

Nelson fishermen want snapper catch limits

Nelson reporter Nelson fishermen, alarmed at the huge catches of spawning snapper taken in Tasman Bay. yesterday asked the Minister of Fisheries (Mr Bolger) to impose fair-catch restrictions. Last year, in the warmer weather, and water, the snapper appeared in huge schools. One catch was so big. it could not be taken aboard, and had to be dragged along the sea-bottom to the wharf. It was spoiled during the journey and the entire catch had to be dumped. There were stories of one factory having to dump a lot of fish, and of fishermen themselves voluntarily dumping fish at sea when they were advised that the factories could not cope with catches. Huge schools of snapper began to appear in Tasman Bay to spawn within the

i last week. This year the ( trawlers, armed with sonar ( spotting gear and using I “spotter” aircraft, were (ready for them. Already as much as 300 tonnes of top-feeding snapper has been taken bv pair trawlers and purse seiners. So great had been the demands made on processing facilities at factories in Nelson on Monday, that at least one fishing company called I its boats in with only half [the day’s fishing completed. [ Nelson fishermen, alarmed I at the catches being made and worried about the apparent lack of conservation effort yesterday, sought a meeting with Mr Bolger before he was to address a public meeting of fishermen. : A deputation sought an assurance from him that some restrictions would be imposed — either a total ban or a quota system, until [ research was done on the i

I whole subject. Thex were (told that two fisheries re--1 search officers have alreadyI been sent to Nelson to begin [the survey. i The public meeting with 1 fishermen was low-key and [snapper received only a (passing mention. . Afterwards, Mr Bolger ( was asked if his department was concerned about what (was taking place in the bay, and whether it appreciated (the fishermen’s sense of urgency to have restrictions imposed. [ ’ Mr Bolger said his officers 'were working on the matter ; and as soon as he had a report, he would act on it. Fishermen approached [later said that this was (totally unrealistic. By the) (time Mr Bolger had his re-| port. irreparable damage [ could be done. They consid-1 [ered restrictions should bei [imposed immediately, while ( investigations were goingI on.

i "We’ll be cutting our ■throats — there is big money involved in this. We feel something has to be done to conserve these fish,” said Mr P. Sharp. If the fishermen were so (concerned about conservation why did they not ■ stop fishing for the snapper, 'Mr Sharp was asked. He isaid it was a case where a restriction had to be placed ’’right across the board.” “It is no use us saying we (won't fish if the others carry on," he said. ■ Fishermen said that what ■had happened to scallops I this year, could happen to snapper if they were overfished. Asked by one fisherman if he (the Minister) would have the power to close the hay (to fishing if he held that this was desirable. Mr Bolger said he was not sure, but he thought he would have that power.