Fish scientists removed

Press, 15 July 1983, Page 5

Fish scientists removed

PA Wellington The Soviet Union Embassy says it regrets the “misunderstanding” which resulted in four New Zealand Government fisheries researchers being taken off a trawler at sea. The scientists were taken from the Dolomit, 300 km west of the North Island, after the Russians refused to co-operate with them, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The trawler had been chartered by an Auckland fishing company, Sanford, Ltd, to do research work on orange roughy on the Challenger Plateau.

Both the company and the Ministry said the Russians

had given no reason for their sudden change of mind. The Soviets told officials in June and again recently that Soviet fishing boats belonging to joint-venture companies with New Zealand would not be able to conduct a proper study of marine resources.

“They have a job to do and it is to fulfil the catch quotas allocated to them,” the Embassy said.

However, the Soviet Ministry of Fisheries had offered New Zealand a specially-equipped research ship to conduct a study on the Challenger Plateau. It had also offered to allow New Zealand scientists on board. “The Soviet offer is still

valid. The Soviet Union has always attached great significance to the joint study of fish resources and is still eager to fully co-operate with New Zealand parties in this field,” the Embassy said.

The head of information at the Embassy, Sergei Euranov, said it would not be proper to blame the misunderstanding on any one party.

He said he was not authorised to add anything to the Embassy’s statement.

The Minister of Fisheries, Mr Maclntyre, has decided not to do anything about the incident until he has received a report from the Ministry.