Ministry disputes snapper threat claim

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 2

Ministry disputes snapper threat claim

Blenheim reporter Snapper in Tasman Bay and Golden Bays are not threatened, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Nelson. “We feel quite confident for the future of the snapper fishery in the area,” said the technical officer for the Ministry in Nelson, Mr Kim Drummond. A Picton man, Mr Peter Rocco, said in "The Press” yesterday that snapper would be wiped out unless fishing restrictions were changed and snapper farms set up. In 1977-1978 up to 2625 tonnes of spawning snapper were recorded in Tasman Bay by an aerial fish spotter. By 1981-1982 40 tonnes of snapper were

seen by air in four days in the same area. “In hindsight the reaction to that schooling snapper is not what it could have been given today’s knowledge,” he said. The Ministry tried to introduce quotas during that time but it could only install what the public and industry would agree to, he said. A temporary quota of 1500 tonnes was agreed upon part way through the 1978-1979 season. The total allowable catch for Tasman Bay is now 250 tonnes, with a 100 tonne quota within a boundary running from Adele Island to Peping Island. ’ Mr Drummond said that the Ministry was now

trying to establish how many fish were in Tasman Bay by tagging stock and getting size estimates. About 5000 fish were tagged last summer and return rates were being monitored. The total allowable catch of 250 tonnes would be changed if the results of the survey showed it was necessary. However, Mr Drummond said he believed the snapper numbers were no longer declining. Mr Drummond said that as far as he knew the Ministry had no intention of farming snapper. Representatives sent recently to Japan to look at snapper farms found that they were not economic for here.