Squid catches set record

Press, 7 May 1984, Page 4

Squid catches set record

By

BRUCE ROSCOE,

in Tokyo

The fortunes of Japanese squid boats in New Zealand waters have turned round, and all boats are expected to make a profit as the fleet records its highest catch from the zone.

According to Japanese fishing industry reports, by April 20 the total catch of the fleet had exceeded 44,000 tonnes, about 30 per cent more than last season’s catch of 31,100 tonnes. Japanese trawlers had taken a further 10,000 tonnes of squid from the zone.

This means Japanese boats have taken more than half of this season’s entire

squid resource. The resource, one of New Zealand’s largest, is estimated to fluctuate between 80,000 and 100,000 tonnes each December-May season.

When the season was one month under way, catches were well down on last year, but in February and March squid stocks suddenly became abundant.

Already much of the squid taken by the about 90 jiggers working in the zone has been shipped to Japan by fish transport carriers. The reports say that at market prices, the total Japanese jigging catch from the zone is worth about $llO million, or more than $1 million a boat.