Fish industry returns ‘an illusion’

Press, 3 July 1979, Page 25

Fish industry returns ‘an illusion’

The fishing Industry suffers from an illusion that big money can be made easily by exploiting the 368 km economic zone, according to Mr B. R. Walker, the chairman of Fisheries (South Island), Ltd.

The illusion, fostered by “political people and other spokesmen,” was one of the criticisms raised by Mr Walker, when he addressed the Canterbury branch of the Engineers Institution. It was generally felt that persons with money could put it into fishing and automatically do well, Mr Walker said.

“You keep hearing of this

person and that person getting into the industry.” Yet many did not have the necessary knowledge, and that w'orked to the disadvantage of long-standing companies making the most of the country’s fish resources, he said. Tax incentives available to fish-export ventures were also an attraction for investment in the industry. “It doesn’t even matter if they export at a loss,” he said. Efficiency in the fishing industry required much hard work and knowledge. Problems to be overcome included inconsistent catches, marketing, and industrial disputes, he said.

But if an inexperienced trader marketed a line of fish in poor condition, either domestically or overseas, it could build market resistance to all fish of that line, he said.

The New Zealand industry was also discarding much of its catch which could otherwise be turned into fish meal. “A lot of the crayfish industry uses good blue cod, good eatable food, as bait,” he said.

In addition experienced crewmen for fishing boats were scarce. “The best fishermen in the country have

their own boats,” Mr Walker said.

Unlike farmers, there was nobody in the industry to give fishermen advice. The fishing industry did its best, but there was no co-ordinat-ing body. “Fishermen keep good trade secrets to themselves.” Mr Walker also criticised harbour facilities in some fishing areas. One of his firm’s boats had had to wait for two months to be able to use a slipway at Bluff for painting, he said.

Kaikoura was another place where harbouring facilities could be developed.

“That harbour is the same as it was in the days of the w’halers,’’ said Mr Walker. “It could be the scene of good fishing potential, but the boats are still bobbing about on chains. “If only we had some of the money used to prop up failing industries in the past.” Mr Walker said. The fishing industry has over-regulated. The attitude to some of the marine regulations governing fishing boats was “gulp and do it, just to get the ship to sea.” “You can say what you like, but you end up beating your head against a brick wall,” Mr Walker said.