Squid boat can return next year

Press, 9 May 1979, Page 15

Squid boat can return next year

PA Wellington The banned Korean squid boat Tae Chang 55 can return to New Zealand waters next year if the owners apply. The ship, which is under contract to Pacific Marine Products, Ltd, a subsidiary company of Wilson Neill, Ltd, of Dunedin, was seen by H.M.N.Z.S. Taupo fishing within the 12-mile limit off the Kaikoura Coast on April 29, and was banned from fishing within New Zealand’s 200-mile economic zone for the rest of the season. Ships have been confiscated in the past for similar offences, but they were fully foreign-owned. A gap in the Fishing Industry Act prevents the Government confiscating a joint-venture boat fishing illegally. That gap will be plugged when the act is reviewed, according to the “Evening Post” newspaper. A spokesman for Wilson Neill said that it was too early to say what action the company would take. It had another ship work-

1 ing, and it might bring the Tae Chang 55 back into i service next year. 5 Only the director- - general of the Ministry of ’ Agriculture and Fisheries (Mr M. Cameron) can de- ; cide if the company can : bring in a replacement i ship, and it was his decif sion that sent the Tae i Chang 55 home. r Mr Cameron could make ; no comment on whether ; the decision was any i harder to reach because of I the presence in New Zear land of the Korean Prime Minister (Mr Choi Kyu f Hah). During his stay in New Zealand Mr Choi Kyu Hah held talks with several Government Minisf ters, including the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (Mr Maclntyre). 5 However, Mr Cameron 1 criticised the breach by I the Tae Chang 55 and * other vessels. ’ “The rules are laid ' down,” he said. “They know exactly what they 1 can and cannot do. If ’ there has been an infringement we will take action.”