Clash about fish prices

Press, 11 June 1982, Page 4

Clash about fish prices

PA Wellington The Consumers' Institute has taken the Fishing Industry Board to task for “rash arid provocative” statements about fish prices. The institute had done a survey of fish prices, soon to be published in “Consumer" magazine, which’showed that some retail mark-ups were excessive, said the institute’s assistant director, Mr David Russell. The board’s manager, Mr N. I. Jarman, had defended fish prices in advance of the study, saying that extravagant assertions continued to be made about mark-ups which did not stand up to investigation. “Generalised comments on fish pricing frequently over-

look the fact that between fishing boat and consumer fish is extensively processed.” he said. Mr Russell said yesterday, "I would throw that statement straight back at him and say his comment is provocative. extravagant, and very generalised. “What we have done is a very detailed survey in four main centres where we describe very specific retail mark-ups." For example, the survey had found mark-ups of between 85 and 127 per cent for filleted tarakihi. The survey had taken into account the wastage which occurred in processing the fish, which Mr Jarman had referred to. The mark-up for whole

tarakihi had made nonsense of Mr Jarman’s assertion that the high prices were due to filleting. Mr Russell said that the institute did not dispute Mr Jarman’s statement that the average retail mark-up was between 50 and 70 per cent. But it was sticking to specific cases rather than making rash generalisations. Some mark-ups were excessively high, Mr Russell said. The institute would not ask the Trade and Industry Department to reimpose price control on fish, but would keep an eye on the situation. If it later found very high mark-ups it would push for price control. Earlier report, page 13