FOVEAUX STRAIT OYSTERS

Southland Times, Issue 24545, 20 September 1941, Page 8

FOVEAUX STRAIT OYSTERS

DEPLETION OF BEDS FEARED EXAMINATION URGED (Special) WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The urgent necessity for the Government to undertake an investigation of the oyster beds in Foveaux Strait to see whether the supplies of oysters were decreasing, was emphasized by the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Nat., Hurunui) in the House of Representatives today when speaking during the discussion on the Marine Estimates. Mr Forbes said that the Government should be prepared to spend money for the purpose of having the beds thoroughly examined, and asked whether it was not neglecting its duty in allowing the beds to be depleted. The subject was first raised by Mr J. Thorn (Lab., Thames), who said that in 1937, 60,000 bags of oysters had been taken from the beds in Foveaux Strait. At that time it was pointed out that the beds were being overfished. It was estimated that 73,000 sacks were taken this year. If the beds were being over-fished then, they were certainly being over-fished today, “The trouble is,” Mr Thorn said, “that the best oysters come from the east bed, which is the nearest to Bluff, and it is being over-fished. If the oyster interests are going to take 73,000 bags a year from the strait, in a few years there will be very small supplies left.” Mr D. C. Kidd (Nat., Waitaki), said he would like to see more money spent on the planting of oysters. He understood that oysters that were spawning were being taken, and he asked for an assurance that this practice would be stopped. In reply the Minister (the Hon. R. Semple) said he thought the suggestion of the member for Hurunui was a very sensible one. A survey plan for Bluff was in progress, but it had been retarded because of the war. It would be gone on with, however, because it was necessary that they should obtain a true picture of what was going on there. They could not allow oyster dredging to go on indiscriminately. Mr W. M. C. Denham (Lab., Invercargill), said the season for oyster fishing was extended last season by a ; fortnight at the request of the fishermen. In his opinion an extension should not have been granted because the oysters spawned at the end of the season.