NEW ZEALAND’S FISH STOCKS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 157, 29 March 1939, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND’S FISH STOCKS

Serious Depletion Noted FLAT FISH SUFFER IN PARTICULAR By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 24. The serious state of the depletion of fish stocks in New Zealand waters was emphasized by Mr. A. E. Hefford, chief inspector of fisheries, in an .interview today. Mr. Hefford said the reduction was particularly noticeable in flat fish and pointed out that members of netting parties should be careful not to contravene the regulations, as in the aggregate this caused considerable drain on the supplies. “There is no question about the depletion of flat; fish supplies,” Mr. Hefford said, “and the reason why they have suffered most is because they are the most accessible. It is difficult to ascertain in any exact proportion the extent of depletion that has taken place, but there is no doubt that there is depletion. We can only observe the yield over a number of years to see whether the reduction is due to natural depletion or to over-fishing and with that end in view we have during the past two years been securing returns of all fish caught commercially. It is a great pity that this practice was not instituted earlier, as it would have enabled us to gain some very valuable information.”

Mr. Hefford said that the Marine Department was much concerned about the operations of members of casual netting parties. Through ignorance of the regulations they used nets of unsuitable and sometimes illegal mesh and took undersized fish. There might not be many fish taken in this way by each party but in. the aggregate there was a. substantial quantity. That was one of the factors of wastage the department was trying to minimize. “Even with blue cod taken by line, fishing supplies are not as good as in the past in places where they have been intensively fished,” Mr. Hefford added. “I gather that in the Foveaux Strait cod areas the few months’ rest they have had through the closing down of activities by Stewart Island fishermen seem to have improved the blue cod stocks there, but other fishing grounds have not had the advantage of a similar spell.”