Moore predicts ‘war chests’ trout battle

Press, 19 July 1989, Page 2

Moore predicts ‘war chests’ trout battle

By

JANE DUNBAR

New--Zealand anglers will use their ‘‘war chests” to fight the introduction of trout farming, says the Minister of External Relations and Trade, Mr Moore. ‘ A c c 1 i m a t i <a t i o ln societies had considerable ffinds and would use thqrn to wage a campaign against the proposal, said > Mr Moore in Christchurch ; yesterday. “The societies will launch, a good campaign, and use their war chest to have a poke at people promoting the idea,” he said.

But New Zealand was not rich enough to turn its _ back on the potential benefits of fish farming. Trout farming could provide jobs, investment opportunities and overseas earnings from export Sales. - Although trout farming was already done in other countries, New Zealand’s fresh water gave it a competitive advantage. Trout had a religious significance' for;NeW : Zea- ; land anglers and so the argument tended to be emotive ratherThafl'ldgi-"; - Some said: “The one

thing we’ve got left is being able to flick a line out.” But this was not a good enough reason to scuttle the farming idea. “New Zealand offers the best fishing in the world, and this heeded to be preserved. But with strict controls ?;we can have both farming and fishing.” The debate over trout fishing has gone on for years, but re-emerged last month with the release of a Trade Development Board report on the $250 million potential of the. aquaculture industry.