N.Z. fish exports up 17 per cent

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 14

N.Z. fish exports up 17 per cent

PA Wellington New Zealand last year exported 129,000 tonnes of fish, worth $l9O million, a rise of 17 per cent on 1980, the Fishing Industry Board has announced. “This continues the trend .of substantial rises in fisheries production every year since 1975 when exports were only 14,000 tonnes with a value of $26 million," said the board's chairman, Mr M. Hinchcliff. Domestic production ac-

counted for SIIOM of last year's exports, with joint ventures providing the rest. Mr Hinchcliff said at least 20 per cent of the joint venture sector's exports had been processed in onshore processing facilities. Rock lobster (crayfish) was the biggest single export, totalling S36M, but Mr Hinchcliff said the most dramatic growth was in fin fish sales, which jumped 37 per cent to a total SII7M.

Although orange roughy exports rose to SI6M last year, snapper, at S2OM, re-

tained its place as the main fin fish exported. Others included tuna (SI4M), hoki (S6M), and barracoota and the warehou ($5.5M each). Exports of squid, entirely a joint-venture catch, totalled S2BM. “The board is optimistic that the general improvement in fish export markets during the year, after a long period of virtual stagnation, will continue," Mr Hinchcliff

said. "We expect that we could see a further strengthening of prices in most markets, with more economic prices being returned in the coming year. “Whether this new level of exports can be maintained and even increased will depend substantially on the ease with which any transition from joint-venture activity to domestic enterprises takes place."