New aquaculture initiatives announced
15 July 2008 Media Statement
New aquaculture initiatives announced
Environment Minister Trevor Mallard today announced funding for aquaculture projects in Tasman, Northland and Marlborough aimed at progressing aquaculture planning and the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry in New Zealand.
"Funding of $2.6 million over four years has been provided for six new aquaculture projects that will take place mainly in Northland, Tasman and Marlborough.
"They are aimed at facilitating the creation of new aquaculture space, and they will also explore how there can be greater flexibility for the farming of new species in existing space (details below)," Trevor Mallard said.
The minister today was briefed on the two Tasman-based aquaculture projects during a visit to Nelson-based New Zealand King Salmon.
Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said the projects were important for the development of the industry.
"Aquaculture has immense potential to help transform New Zealand’s economy in both environmentally and socially sustainable ways. New Zealand’s farmed fish and shellfish production is now worth $300 million a year and there is an industry strategy in place to reach a billion dollars in sales by 2025.
"Through these projects we want to ensure that
maximum value is achieved from existing space. The projects
will also focus on the development of new aquaculture
management areas and address issues relating to restrictions
on species that can be farmed. We also want to test the
potential of farming off-shore," Jim Anderton said.
Aquaculture projects
Small extensions to existing
marine farms - Marlborough
An investigation into
rationalising the ‘coastal ribbon’ of marine farms and
thereby creating new space will be carried out. The project
involves the Ministry for the Environment and other relevant
government agencies working with the Marlborough District
Council, iwi and industry to work out how to slightly extend
and maximise the space available for aquaculture.
Removing
restrictions on species - Tasman
The Ministry for the
Environment will work with the Tasman District Council to
assist them to review their plan provisions with the
possibility of broadening them to include aquaculture
activities other than mussel and scallop spat catching and
mussel farming.
Facilitating commercialisation of
offshore aquaculture
This project involves the Ministry
for the Environment and Ministry of Fisheries working with
industry, the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology
and scientific researchers to further investigations into
the viability of commercialisation of offshore aquaculture.
Voluntary aquaculture agreements -
Tasman
Government assistance will be provided for
commercial fishing quota holders and aquaculture interests
in Tasman to negotiate voluntary aquaculture agreements to
allow high quality aquaculture space to become available.
The project recognises the unique situation with respect to
aquaculture and fishing interests in Tasman, and allows the
voluntary agreement provisions of the aquaculture law to be
tested.
Northland aquaculture management areas
The
Ministry for the Environment and other relevant government
agencies will work with Northland Regional Council, industry
and the local community on the development of new
aquaculture management areas, working within the framework
recently developed by the Council. Investigations into the
possibility of a government-led plan change to create new
aquaculture management areas are proposed.
Reviewing the
restriction on commercial farming of Undaria
The Ministry
for the Environment will work with Biosecuity New Zealand to
review the current restriction on the commercial harvest of
Undaria, an exotic Asian seaweed introduced to New Zealand
approximately 20 years ago that is now common in a number of
aquaculture
areas.
ENDS