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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 39, Number 24, September 27, 1976.

The Foreigners Arrive

The Foreigners Arrive

Since the early 1960's, large foreign fishing vessels have been coming to New Zealand in ever increasing numbers. First the Japanese, followed in the early 70s by Soviet, South Korean, Taiwanese, and, to a smaller extent US fleets, have been oeprating in and around New Zealand Waters.

As a result, New Zealand, which was the number one fishing power in our region as late as 1970 had dropped to number two by 1971 and has occupied the number three position since 1973. In some areas, such as the Canterbury Bight, foreign competition has meant a decline in fish stocks (through overfishing and use of small mesh nets which take immature fish) and a consequent decline in the number of NZ fishing vessels and fishermen that the area can sustain.

The effect of this competition on traditional New Zealand grounds has also been evident in another sphere - the sharply rising price of fish as New Zealand fishermen are forced to travel further for smaller catches.

The magnitude of the competition is shown by recent flotilla of nine Russian trawlers, a mother ship, and an oiler which, when fishing off the Canterbury Bight, caught an equivalent catch to that of 60 NZ trawlers.

Russian trawler off NZ coast.

Russian trawler off NZ coast.