Opposition To Trawler Licence

Northern Advocate, 3 September 1947, Page 7

Opposition To Trawler Licence

Opposition to the granting of a trawler licence in Whangarei was expressed in a letter from the Rehabilitation Department to the Whangai’ei Borough Council last night. Seafoods Ltd, Auckland, wrote thanking the council for its support of the company’s appeal to the Marine Department for a trawling licence to operate out of Whangarei. The appeal had been successful and the company hoped shortly to have a trawler operating from Whangarei, which would receive first consideration with all supplies from this boat. The department's letter pointed out that the Whangarei Rehabilitation Committee had been assured by Whangarei fishermen, two of whom were ex-servicemen, that they were able to supply the demand for fish in Whangarei. DESTRUCTION OF GROUNDS Opposed to trawling as they knew it would eventually destroy the fishing grounds, the fishermen preferred the long lino and hand-net type of fishing. Harbour Board and Marine Department representatives had assured the committee of support for the local fishermen. It was noted that an assurance' had been given that the whole supply of edible fish would first be available to Whangarei. but the committee felt that the full facts of the case, particularly from the local fishermen’s point of view, had not been available to the council when its decision was made, and the committee was opposing the appeal. The legal and finance committee’s recommendation that the letters should be received was adopted.