Media Release
18 December 2010

Aquaculture New Zealand welcomes Ministerial Advisory Panel announcement

Aquaculture New Zealand has welcomed the establishment of an Aquaculture Ministerial Advisory Panel to consult with the public on a proposal to establish a new marine farming zone in Coromandel.

Aquaculture New Zealand chief executive Mike Burrell said it was encouraging to see the government working in partnership with the regional council to explore opportunities for ecologically sustainable and appropriately sited aquaculture.

“A new aquaculture zone will provide an exciting opportunity for developing a sustainable finfish farming industry in the Coromandel, creating jobs and bringing growth to the Waikato region,” Mr Burrell said.

“The waters off the Coromandel are ideal for marine farming, and the establishment of an aquaculture zone will help the sector to develop in a sustained and sustainable way in the area.”

“Public consultation is an essential part of the process and we agree with Sir Doug that local knowledge, values and attitudes are crucial. For this reason we welcome this approach which will ensure that the voices of all of those who have an interest in the proposal are heard.”

New Zealand’s finfish farming industry has some of the highest environmental standards in the world. New Zealand was recently ranked as the most environmentally sustainable by the Seafood Ecology Research Group at the University of Victoria, Canada as part of their the Global Aquaculture Performance Index.

“We look forward to participating in this process and seeing the future development of sustainable aquaculture in the Waikato region” Mr Burrell said.

ENDS

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