DEPLETION OF FISH IN NEW ZEALAND WATERS.

Otaki Mail, 31 March 1939, Page 1

DEPLETION OF FISH IN NEW ZEALAND WATERS.

POSITION GETTING SEEIOUS DUNEDIN, Mur. 2S The .serious state of dcqdetion of fish .stocks in New Zealand waters was emphasised by Mr. A. E. liefTord, Chicl Inspector of Fisheries, in an interview to-day. Mr. Hefford said the reduction was particularly noticeable In flat fish and pointed out that members of netting parties should ire careful not to contravene tiie regulations as in the aggregate this caused a considerable drain on supplies. “There is not a question about the depletion of flat fish supplies,” Mr Hefford .said, “and the reason why thus ■ have suffered most is because they arc t accessible. It is difficult to ascer in -i in anv exact proportion the extent of the depletion that has taken place, but there is no doubt that there is a depletion. We can only observe the yield over a number of years to see w; ether the reduction is due to natural depletion or to over fishing and with that end in view we have during tin past two years been securing returns ot ail fish caughj commercially. It is a great pity that this practice was not instituted earlier, as it would have enabled us to gain some very valuable in formation. ’ ’ Mr. Hefford said that the Marine Department was much concerned r»<out the operations of members of casual netting parties. Through ignorance ot the regulations they used nets of unsuitable and sometimes illegal mesh and took undersized fish. There rnignt not be many fish taken in this way by each partv but in the aggregate there was a substantial quantity. That was one of the factors of the waste-age the department was trying to minimise. “Even with blue cod taken by the line fishing supplies are not a.-, good as in the past in places where they have been intensively fished,” Mr. Hefford added. “I gather that as far as Foveaux Strait cod areas are concerned the few months’ rest they have had through closing down of activities bv Stewart Island fishermen seem to have improved tne blue cod stocks there, but otaer fishing grounds have riot had the advantage of a similar spell.”