Deepwater fleet gets snap check

Press, 25 September 1989, Page 3

Deepwater fleet gets snap check

By

NEIL CLARKSON

The frigate H.M.N.Z.S. Wellington sailed into the middle of a deepwater fishing fleet in New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic fishery yesterday to run a snap check on the vessels.

Wellington approached the fleet of more than 20 Japanese and Soviet trawlers, operating under charter to New Zealand fishing companies, about 10 a.m. The assistant fisheries compliance manager, Mr Dave Wood, said the frigate moved in at speed once within radar range of the vessels. “The first vessels boarded did not have the opportunity to retrieve their nets,” he said. The fleet near the Campbell and Auckland Islands, about 500 km south of Stewart Island, is

fishing for southern blue whiting. “This is a fishery with a very short fishing season of a few weeks when, about this time of the year, the southern blue whiting gather for spawning in the sub-Antarctic area. “While this is a fishery of substantial quantity, with about 20,000 tonnes taken in a season, most of the regulations relating to the taking of other species also apply to southern blue whiting.” The boarding parties, including naval and MAFFish staff, spent the day checking fishing permits,

registration certificates, fishing records, and nets, for correct construction and mesh size. The checks were a joint venture between MAFFish and the Ministry of Defence. The Air Force provided aerial surveillance for the operation. “Minor infringements” were detected during the first few boardings but the nature of the alleged breaches was not given. Details of later boardings were unavailable. The operation was at the southern extremity of New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone.