Minister tells of talks abroad on salmon farming

Press, 28 November 1979, Page 18

Minister tells of talks abroad on salmon farming

PA Auckland New Zealand’s determination to proceed with experiments that could lead to a salmon farming industry has been underlined in Auckland by the Minister of Fisheries (Mr Maclntyre). On his return from his latest overseas visit he told of talks with Canadian authorities, who were also interested in enlarging salmon stocks and who encountered similar problems with hydro works along big rivers. Mr Maclntyre said he had proposed an exchange of scientists and technicians to swap information. Mr Maclntyre said authorities in British Columbia were proposing to spend $l5O million over the next five years on the first part of a project to increase salmon stocks. Referring to ex-

periments by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries on the rearing and subsequent release of salmon, Mr Maclntyre said numerous applications had come from people wanting to enter a commercial industry. In the broader field of fishing, Mr Maclntyre had talks in Britain and Scotland with authorities at the Lowestoft Fisheries Research Centre. the White Fish Authority, and the Torry Fisheries Research Centre in Aberdeen. He said he had gleaned information on scientific and practical methods of assessing the size of different fish stocks, on how to go about setting limits on the size of the catch, and on the work being done on the storage and quality of fish. On the salmon question, Mr Maclntyre was also promised help in Britain.