EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
3.30 pm Thursday 2007

Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister

Address at
LAUNCH OF AQUACULTURE NEW ZEALAND

at

The Boathouse
326 Wakefield Quay
NELSON

3.30 pm
Thursday 7 June 2007

I am pleased to be able to join you today for the launch of this new industry body, Aquaculture New Zealand.

Twenty years ago, aquaculture was a relatively small industry, turning over about a million dollars a week and employing four hundred people.

Today it has grown to employ 2500 people, and it turns over close to a million dollars a day.

Fish and shellfish farming has now become the fastest growing sector of New Zealand’s seafood industry.

The sector has immense potential to help transform New Zealand’s economy in a way which is both environmentally and socially sustainable.

New Zealand’s farmed fish and shellfish production is now a $300 million a year industry. Our government believes the sector’s vision to become a billion-dollar industry by 2025 is achievable.

A large part of the industry’s success to date is based on its reputation for sustainable, high value, innovative products which meet the needs of increasingly sophisticated consumers - at home and abroad.

New Zealanders already enjoy the benefits of locally farmed seafood – virtually all the New Zealand fresh and chilled mussels, salmon and Pacific oysters in our shops, are farm-raised.

The future growth of the industry depends on it continuing to grow sustainably and further developing markets for its products, particularly offshore.

Sustainability is a necessity in today’s business world, not an optional extra. Increasingly consumers want to know not just what a product or service does for them – but also how it’s produced and transported.

New Zealand aquaculture is poised to grow into an even bigger industry.

Its potential is being driven by the quality of our produce and by a reputation for clean, sustainable production. That gives us an edge in global markets.

Let me illustrate with a story from a luxury lodge in Queenstown, where celebrities and sophisticated business travellers from around the world come to experience the finest food and services we have to offer.

Blanket Bay Lodge was recently rated by Conde Naste travel magazine as one of the best hotels in the world for its cuisine.

The executive chef there puts fresh New Zealand oysters, salmon, mussels, and paua on the menu every night because, in his words, "The raw product when it arrives to us is the finest grade quality you can find on the planet for its taste, its flavour, and its presentation."

This food is unique because it's farmed in pristine, clean, and unspoiled New Zealand waters. That’s a huge competitive advantage for us to capitalise on.

Today's launch of Aquaculture New Zealand is a significant step toward realising the industry’s potential.

Aquaculture New Zealand will be a single overarching voice for aquaculture in New Zealand.

This will be essential as the industry implements its sector strategy, and as it communicates and builds relationships with government, councils, iwi, and other stakeholders.

Aquaculture New Zealand can bring cohesion, stability, and marketing direction to the industry.

Our Labour-led government has identified the aquaculture industry as one of the most important economic sectors for future growth. We know it can boost economic development in our regions and small coastal towns.

It is also an industry with enormous potential for Maori economic development.

I was pleased to see that Aquaculture New Zealand has ensured Maori representation on its Board.

The Aquaculture Commercial Claims Settlement Act 2004 further cements the place of Maori in this sector.

There is an important role in aquaculture for Maori as businesspeople, as well as culturally in the role of kaitiaki in relation to management of marine resources. Kaitiaki tanga revolves around the principles of sustainable use.

The opportunities for New Zealanders are abundant because the world is hungry for farmed fish products.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations predicts world seafood consumption will rise by a third in the next ten years.

There are not enough fish in the sea to meet the demand, so the rapidly expanding demand will have to be met from aquaculture.

New Zealand cannot let pass the opportunity to be part of that growth, and we do have those compelling competitive advantages.

Many other countries can only dream of relatively uncrowded coasts, and clean waters. As well, we have highly skilled scientists and researchers working to develop new varieties and innovation in processing.

With today's launch of Aquaculture New Zealand, we have the industry and central and local government prepared to work together.

As the industry grows, it's up to us all to ensure its development is sustainable, so that it has a long term future, so that we can meet consumer demand, and so we are in a position of strength as regulators around the world demand higher environmental standards.

Consumers in our markets are increasingly prepared to pay a premium for products which are kind to the environment. There is money to be made from being sustainable, and much less to be made if we are not.

Already New Zealand aquaculture has a good story to tell. When the leading American environmental organization, The Blue Ocean Institute, looked around the world for eco-friendly sources of seafood, it gave one of its highest ratings to New Zealand’s greenshell mussel, deeming it to be one of the top two sustainable seafoods in the world.

Our oyster, salmon, and abalone farmers are also recognised as having in place world best practice in environmental management.

I repeat: sustainability is not just a buzz word, it is a necessity for future prosperity. If we set our sights on becoming a truly sustainable nation, that’s not only good for the environment, it is good for the bottom line too.

So I'm pleased that our government and this industry are working in partnership to develop national standards for sustainable aquaculture.

We will work with international agencies which can audit these environmental standards and confirm that they are world best practice standards.

Environmental standards are also important to reassure communities about development in their areas. The industry is developing in public space, and it must be a good steward of that space.

Regional councils play an important role in that, and I urge industry and councils to work together with their communities to help aquaculture develop.

Aquaculture growth will not just be about more marine farms; it will also be about using the space we already have allocated to best effect.

Most of the economic growth from aquaculture will benefit regional economies.

In small towns like Havelock in Marlborough, Kaeo in Northland, and in Coromandel, aquaculture has brought jobs, wealth, and opportunities.

There are not many industries which can do as much for our coastal rural communities.

As we look to the future of aquaculture we will need to develop new technologies and new and higher value species. We do need more of the high value exports aquaculture can bring.

Our major aquaculture species at the moment are mussels, salmon, oysters, and paua. But scientists are pioneering research into farming kingfish, eel, sea cucumbers, kina, rock lobsters, and hapuka. There is some exciting growth potential ahead.

The aquaculture industry has already been developed with Kiwi creativity and hard work. Further innovation will help to unlock further growth.

There have been growing pains in bringing aquaculture to this point.

It has taken hard work from both government and industry.

Today we are opening the door to a new era of growth and to that goal of developing a billion dollar industry by 2025.

Shortly my colleague Jim Anderton will explain our government’s work programme to support this industry in achieving its goal. Our website on aquaculture went live at midday – at www.aquaculture.govt.nz .

For now, I wish Aquaculture New Zealand and the wider industry every success, and thank you for the contribution you are making to the economic transformation of New Zealand.

ENDS

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