XN000022-1981-02-04 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4,

1981

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FISH CATCH UP DESPITE OIL HIKE

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PRODUCTIVITY BY THE LOCAL FISHING FLEET INCREASED BY ABOUT THREE PER CENT LAST YEAR DESPITE A TRYING TIME FOR THE FISHERMEN DUE TO INCREASED FUEL OIL COSTS.

STATING THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AT THE ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY AT THE ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET, ACTING DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DR C.T. WONG SAID: THE YEAR ABOUT TO PASS HAS BEEN A TIME OF TRIAL AND TRIBULATION FOR THE LOCAL FISHING FLEET.+

THE HIGH PRICE OF FUEL OIL CONTINUED TO GIVE THE LOCAL FISHERMEN A HARD TIME DURING THE YEAR, HE SAID.

DR WONG SAID: +DUE TO YOUR HARD WORK AND ADAPTABILITY, HOWEVER, THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE LOCAL FLEET INCREASED BY ABOUT THREE PER CENT ALTHOUGH LANDINGS SOLD THROUGH THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION DURING 1980 DECLINED BY APPROXIMATELY SEVEN PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1979.+

NEVERTHELESS, THE AVERAGE PRICE RECEIVED THROUGH THE F.M.O. ROSE BY JUST UNDER $47 PER PICUL OR 17 PER CENT TO HELP OFFSET THE INCREASED COSTS.

DR WONG URGED FISHERMEN TO ADOPT ALL MEASURES POSSIBLE TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN ORDER TO OFFSET INCREASED EXPENDITURE.

REGARDING ASSISTANCE TO FISHERMEN, DR WONG SAID THE ISSUE OF LOANS FROM THE VARIOUS FUNDS ADMINISTERED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN SPEEDED UP AND REPAYMENT TERMS EASED.

+THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO EXPANDING THE RANGE OF ITS TRAINING CLASSES FOR YOUR BENEFIT AND IN OCTOBER 1980 COMMISSIONED A NEW FISHERIES RESEARCH VESSEL, THE 'TAI SHUN',+ HE SAID.

THE 'TAI SHUN', WHICH REPLACED THE 28-YEAR-OLD 'CAPE ST. MARY' WILL CARRY OUT EXPLORATORY FISHING IN AN ATTEMPT TO OPEN UP NEW FISHING GROUNDS AND NEW RESOURCES. THE INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE MADE KNOWN TO THE FISHERMEN.

+ THE NEW VESSEL IS A FURTHER EXAMPLE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S DETERMINATION TO FOSTER THE GROWTH OF THE LOCAL FISHING INDUSTRY,+ DR WONG SAID.

DURING THE CEREMONY, DR WONG PRESENTED PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES TO NINE FISHERMEN WHO SAVED THE LIVES OF 22 PEOPLE IN SEVEN ACCIDENTS AT SEA DURING THE YEAR.

MRS WONG PRESENTED PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES TO 24 CHAMPION FISHERMEN.

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