September 1966 



COMMERCIAL FISHERIES REVIEW 



75 



United Kingdom (Contd.): 



Conclusion : In the concluding section of 

 the Report, the Authority set out their views 

 on the need to maintain a strong British fish- 

 ing industry. Supplies of fish are likely to 

 become of increasing significance both to the 

 world and to this country. The British fleet, 

 which is comparable with the best in efficiency 

 and whose catch ranks twelfth among the na- 

 tions, should be maintained so that this coun- 

 try has a strong voice in the framing of inter- 

 national regulations and, since it is essential 

 that sensible conservation measures will 

 eventually be adopted, a fair share of supplies. 



The maintenance of a strong industry is 

 a more important objective than the Fleck 

 Committee's target of self reliance by 1972. 

 It is necessary to plan the fishing industry's 

 part in the country's primary food produc- 

 tion. Long-term planning for the fisherman 

 is at least as necessary as for the farmer, 

 but in fact he has little guidance. 



The Authority must play a considerable 

 part in determining the future shape of the 

 fleets, and, if a statutory minimum prices 

 scheme is introduced, a more positive role 

 in marketing. However, the processes open 

 to the Authority for formulating schemes are 

 slow in operation and uncertain in outcome so 

 that the scope for action is limited. The 

 proper exploitation of resources and the pro- 

 vision of adequate supplies of British-caught 

 fish require from Government a more posi- 

 tive attitude towards the industry and per- 

 haps fresh thought about the powers neces- 

 sary to a strong public body which can help 

 formulate and carry out long-term policy. 



Foreign Fishing Off United States 

 CoastsV, July 1966 



IN NORTHWES T ATLANTIC: 



U.S.S.R.: Dense fog blanketed the Georges 

 Bank area during the greater part of July and 

 restricted aerial obs ervations . Only a limited 

 assessment of Soviet fishing activity was pos- 

 sible. The estimated number of Soviet fishing 

 vessels decreased from 150 units early in 

 July to about 125 by month's end due to in- 

 creased Soviet fishing activi ty off Nova Scotia. 



^/Based on information fiom surveillance flights by U.S. Bureau 

 of Commercial Fisheries management agents with U.S. Coast 

 Guard cooperation, plus information obtained from other 



A total of 105 vessels (exlusive of duplica- 

 tion) were sighted during the month and iden- 

 tified as 23 factory stern trawlers, 6 freezer 

 stern trawlers, 8 large refrigerated side 

 trawlers, 16 medium, refrigerated side trawl- 

 ers, 43 m.edium side trawlers, 4 refrigerated 

 fish transports, 4 factory base ships, and one 

 seiner-type vessel which was not rigged for 

 fishing. This compares to 161 vessels sighted 

 during June 1966. During July 1965 there 

 was a complete withdrawal of Soviet vessels 

 from Georges Bank to eastern Nova Scotia 

 areas. 



The fleet operated in two areas of Georges 

 Bank. Fifty or more vessels (mostly side 

 trawlers and processing ships) fished a 40- 

 mile area in the southwest part of Georges 

 Bank in depths of 50 to 75 fathoms. The prin- 

 cipal species of fish taken by this group ap- 

 peared to be whiting with some evidence of 

 red hake and herring catches. 



Another 50 vessels (stern trawlers, side 

 trawlers and fish transports) were scattered 

 over a 40-mile area in the southeast part of 

 Georges Bank. The heavy to moderate catches 

 of fish appeared to be primarily herring. 

 The fish were covered with canvas used to 

 protect it from sun and heat. This made com- 

 plete identification of the species more dif- 

 ficult. The Soviets were probably increasing 

 effort in harvesting herring in 1966. Their 

 herring catches on Georges Bank dropped 

 sharply in 1965 because of a decline in con- 

 sumer demand for this species. 



A small number of stern trawlers fished 

 intermittently in the vicinity of Cultivator 

 Shoals 80 miles east of Cape Cod. The fish 

 visible on deck appeared to be haddock. 

 Crews were observed culling and dressing 

 the fish. U.S. fishermen have reported 

 abundance of haddock in that area. 



Poland : Four Polish factory sterntrawl- 

 ers were sighted in the Georges Bank area. 

 Their catches of fish appeared to be herring 

 and whiting. Five similar vessels were 

 sighted on Georges Bank during September 

 1965. 



Romania: One Romanian factory stern 

 trawler was sighted among the Soviet fleet on 

 the southeast part of Georges Bank. Two 

 such vessels were observed on Georges Bank 

 in 1965. 



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