Govt forming group to settle fishing dispute

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 9

Govt forming group to settle fishing dispute

PA Wellington / The Government has agreed to form a working group with the fishing industry to try to settle “differences of opinion" on the requirements for freezing crayfish tails at sea. Regulations, due to come into effect in October next year, will require the tails to be frozen to minus 18 degrees centigrade, which the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries says is necessary to maintain quality and mar ;

ket access. Fishermen, however, say the requirement is too stringent, and that the cost of installing adequate refrigerating gear on their boats will force some of them out of business. The Minister of Fisheries, Mr Maclntyre, said that he would form' a working party, comprising representatives of the Ministry, the Fishing Industry Board, the Seafood Processors’ Association, and the Federation of Commercial Fishermen to discuss the

problem. The group would examine the United States import requirements, review the code of practice for handling rock lobster tails, study the relationship between quality and market price, examine the implications to the fleet on the new regulations, and investigate possible training programmes in tailing rock lobsters at sea. The group will be asked to report to the Minister with recommendations by the end of March next year.