Nelson beaches not affected by grey slime

Press, 4 December 1981, Page 3

Nelson beaches not affected by grey slime

Nelson reporter Canterbury holidaymakers eagerly contemplating their annual vacation in the Nelson district need have no fears that they will be bathing up to their necks in grey slime. The news about the slime, which invaded both Tasman Bay and Golden Bay several months ago now, is good and bad. The good news is that at no time has the ropy, thick slime come close to the shore, and certainly nowhere near the main beaches of Tahunanui, Kaiteriteri, and Pohara. The bad news is that the slime is still in both bays. Although not as dense as it has been, probably as a result of several strong northerly storms recently, it has effectively convinced fishermen who set-net to move out of the bays and into the Marlborough Sounds. The manager of one, fishing company said that whereas he would normally have nine fishermen providing him with fish from setnetting in Tasman Bay, this season he had only, four, and all these were in the Marlborough Sounds.

Rig (or dogfish), the most sought-after fish for the retail fish-and-chip trade, is caught in set nets. Big quantities are normally sent to Christchurch and Wellington for the trade, but not this season. As a consequence, fish-and-chip shops are having to use any fish they can lay their hands on. warehou being probably the most popular. Snapper are appearing in Tasman Bay during the annual spawning run, and good quantities of these are being caught by trawlers pair-trawling and purse seining in the bay. A few snapper are hovering round the shore and pleasure fishermen have been fishing from favourite spots about the Port Nelson wharves. Wakefield Quay, and Rocks Road, and from boats in the bay.