Foreign fishing fee increases

Press, 6 August 1983, Page 13

Foreign fishing fee increases

PA Wellington Substantial increases in licence fees for foreign vessels fishing in New Zealand’s 200 nautical mile economic zone have been approved by the Government.

The Minister of Fisheries, Mr Maclntyre, has said that the increases stemmed largely from continuing depreciation of the New Zealand dollar and some rises in fish prices on markets important to New Zealand.

the fees are for the fishing year ending on September 30 next year. Each foreign vessel accepted for squid- “jigging” will be charged 820,250, up from $15,000. On top of that will be another 8135, up from 8100, a tonne of squid above 150 tonnes taken by each vessel.

Vessels trawling for squid will be charged 8103 a tonne of allocation accepted. That is up from $B3.

Fees for tuna will also increase. Vessels fishing for northern albacore, bigeye and yellowfin will pay 84500 each, a rise of 81500. Skipjack tuna licence fees have risen to 872 a tonne of fish taken, up from 865.

Southern bluefin tuna licence fees will be 859,000 a vessel. The previous fee was 836,000.

Licence fees for finfish (with current season’s figures in brackets) are:— Trawling area E (the far south of the economic zone); 825 ($2l) a tonne of allocation accepted. —Trawling other areas; 847 (835) a tonne of allocation accepted. —Bottom Longlining: 867 (840) a tonne of allocation accepted. —Fish carriers; 83 (82) a tonne of carrying capacity for each voyage. —Support craft; 81-50 (81) per gross registered tonne for each voyage.