Cawthron Institute is ready to transform the aquaculture industry with new high-value shellfish species and dramatically improved growing conditions to allow a much-extended harvest season. And for this project the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology is investing NZ$14.8 million over five years. The investment in the institute’s Adding Value to Cultured Shellfish research project, one of the 96 contestable research projects announced today in the Foundation’s main 2008 Investment Round.
It is said that the shellfish aquaculture currently contributes some NZ$256 million a year to the New Zealand economy and is dominated by a single species, the Greenshell mussel, which is grown from wild seed and marketed largely as a commodity product. Due to seasonality of wild stock it is important to achieve consistent volume and quality. Foundation chief executive Murray Bain told that the Cawthron’s project aims to turn those constraints into opportunities by unlocking the full potential of existing species and water space; new water space and new high value species; and by securing these gains through proactive risk management.
According to Bain Cawthron has assembled a team with a strong track record for delivering high quality research that makes a real difference to the New Zealand seafood industry. He told that the newly formed national organisation, Aquaculture NZ, is implementing a sector strategy that includes a target of NZ$1 billion in sales by 2025. It I said that this research programme has been developed in response to the strategy and the priorities of New Zealand’s major aquaculture companies.
Cawthron chief executive Gillian Wratt expressed that the research is vital to growing and protecting our shellfish export markets. She further said that the research will give the industry greater control over the quality of their product.
