Salmon farming report disputed

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 7

Salmon farming report disputed

Salmon farming has doubtful export potential and will give New Zealanders a product that will cost at least $lO a kilo* gram, according to the president of the Marlboro u g h Acclimatisation Society (Mr E. R. Bason). He was commenting on recent remarks by the Minister of Fisheries (Mr Maclntyre) on the export potential of salmon farming.

The Minister’s statement had shown “blind ignorance” and contained several “gross inaccuracies,” Mr Bason said.

“Mr Maclntyre talks of an export industry for salmon, but he should know New Zealand has experienced an outbreak of the deadly whirling disease which plagues fish farming overseas. Salmon can carry the disease and because overseas countries

have stringent and prohibitive regulations governing fish-farm produce imports, it is doubtful if there is the export industry Mr Maclntyre talks of.”

Mr Bason said the Min* ister would be better advised to direct the meagre talents of the Fisheries Division to getting crayfish to the public, and at a reasonable price, as well as scallops, mussels, toheroas, and even wet fish. The Minister should have been told by his officers that acclimatisation societies all opposed pond raising of salmon. But the opposition did not extend to commercial salmon ranching in which salmon were allowed to mature at sea, to be harvested by sports anglers and commercial interests on their return to the rivers, Mr Bason said.