BY KEITH INGRAM. PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES BY CHRIS HOWELL
CRA8 would have to be the success
story of the New Zealand rock lobster
industry – according to Malcolm
Lawson chief executive of CRA8
management committee.
T
he industry has injected a huge amount into the Southland
economy annually, but because the contribution was out
of sight, it often went unnoticed. However, in export
receipts it is claimed that this area of southern rock lobster
fishery has brought in about $100 million each year. With some
42 vessels working the Fiordland coast from Puysegur Point to
Jackson Bay, this multi-million dollar crayfishing industry is the
hidden jewel of the Southland economy. CRA8 contributes about
35.5 percent of the national total allowable commercial catch,
nearly 90 percent of which was exported to China by four local
processing companies in Fiordland.
Fisherman David Excel has been fishing this coast since 1978.
A builder by trade, his first vessel was a Marlborough 38. Then
10
Professional Skipper September/October 2013
A well set up helm station
he purchased a Robb 47 hull and built his next cray boat in 1988.
In 1990 he gave up building to focus on fishing full time from
the Exporter.
Since those early days the local fleet has seen many changes
in vessel type and design with a strong influence developing
during the early 90s from the importation of cray boats from
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