N.Z. fishermen said to be struggling

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 3

N.Z. fishermen said to be struggling

PA Auckland New Zealand fishermen are struggling, in spite of 1980 being a record year for export earnings and fish catches, says the president of the Corftmercial Fishermen's Federation,’Mr E. Collins. Unless' Russian joint-fish-ing vessels were ready to use New Zealand crews, they would cease to. be welcome in these waters, he said.

Addressing the federation's conference yesterday, Mr Collins said: “Bread and butter fishermen are struggling. Profitability has declined to a level where many vessels are making no profit at all.”

Increases in fuel prices, labour, stores, repairs, and insurance were the causes. Inshore fisheries were being over fished. •

“Too many boats .are chas-in^-too few- fish? We must look at ways of getting some of these boats out of the inner fisheries.”

Mr Collins said although the Government had offered incentives to the industry

these applied mainly to developmental ' fisheries or larger vessels. Mr Collins said joint vessels must be manned by New Zealand crews in the future. Some companies were alreadj' employing New Zealanders as deck hands and on the bridges of these ships. “ Russian vessels must also be prepared to take on New Zealand crew. If not, they would be breaking conditions of the joint-venture agreement and would not be welcome in New Zealand waters. More than 100 delegates are attending the conference, which will resume tomorrow. Today conference delegates will visit the Fishex 81 exhibition at the Epsom Show Grounds. The Minister of Fisheries (Mr Maclntyre) yesterday warned commercial fishermen that New Zealand could not afford to “bulldoze” joint ventures and foreign operators into deals which could lead to their abandoning New Zealand waters. The loss of foreign vessels would mean the loss of licence revenue, providing income, research side effects, and the name of New Zealand as a place to do business and refit and resupply ships, he said.

In an address to the conference, Mr Maclntyre reminded the industry that joint ventures would be reviewed next year and emphasis would be put on the question of greater participation by ; New Zealanders in all aspects. “I can assure you now that they are going to have to produce some good answers,” he said. Mr Maclntyre said he had heard suggestions that the Government should demand total . crewing by New Zealanders in at least some of these vessels. However, the ventures were partnerships whose success depended on negotiation rather than demands, he said. “Will anyone here fill the gap if the foreign partners decide the demands are excessive and withdraw their vessels?” Mr Maclntyre said. Several sectors of the fishing industry are being hampered by Government policy, according to the Labour Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Sir Basil Arthur. Sir Basil said he saw r no reason why joint ventures should exploit New Zealand resources and export fish in direct contrast with New Zealand efforts.