Fewer Toheroa, But No Car Limit

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 3

Fewer Toheroa, But No Car Limit

(New Zealand Press Association?

WELLINGTON, July 21.

The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) said today that he was willing to lift the restriction on the number of toheroa permitted in a vehicle on a beach.

But, he said, the total must not exceed 20 toheroa a person.

Mr Scott said the restriction was being lifted in an effort to reduce the number of vehicles going on to beaches—thus reducing the risk of accidents and the risk of damage to toheroa near the surface.

The two-month season will begin on August 1. "At present the limit is 100 toheroa to each vehicle,” said Mr Scott. “But if parties care to join together

and use one vehicle there will be no restriction—within the limit—on the number of toheroa carried by any vehicle while on the beach.”

A pre-season survey by the Marine Department had shown that there were generally fewer toheroa over all the northern beds than at the close of the last digging season. On 90-Mile Beach the number of toheroa had declined to such an extent that unless there was a sharp change for the better, no commercial digging could be done this season.

“However, a hopeful sign is that evidence has been found on southern 90-Mile Beach of a recent fall of toheroa spat, and given reasonable condi-

tions, this could mean the beginning of the rehabilitation of the beds,” he said. “Observation of the beds has shown that the present troubles could be due to the lack of plankton in part, brought about by weather conditions. “It seems that while feed is poor on 90-Mile Beach it could be more plentiful on eastern beaches,” said Mr Scott. The Minister said he intended to take up the possibility of transplanting toheroa from healthy beds to beaches on the East Coast where feeding conditions might be better.

Meanwhile the Marine Department was studying the movement of toheroa and doing survey work, including the marking of some toheroa with indelible dye. “It will help research if people who find marked toheroa will send them to the Marine Department in Auckland or to the nearest fisheries inspector,” he said.