New Zealand authorities are probing finfish and oyster farming opportunities in Northland in a bid to grow New Zealand’s aquaculture industry. Minister for the Environment Nick Smith and Minister of Fisheries Phil Heatley have announced this saying that the main objective is to determine the feasibility of potential Aquaculture Management Areas (AMAs) for oyster and finfish farming and related aquaculture activities.
According to Dr Smith this new aquaculture opportunities will allow 19 possible AMA sites identified by the Northland Regional Council to be evaluated for their potential as marine farms, as well as investigating whether other promising sites exist around the Northland coast. Heatley is of view that this is further evidence of the Government’s commitment to backing aquaculture as a greater earner of export revenue and a provider of domestic jobs.
It is informed that the aquaculture industry has a goal of becoming a $1 billion-a-year industry by the year 2025 and the Government is committed to helping it achieve this target. The project, led by the Ministry for the Environment, will undertake research to identify some of the best locations for aquaculture on the basis of their productive potential. The Ministry is said to carry out detailed assessments of the environmental effects of marine farming in these preferred locations and consult with those who might consider themselves potentially affected by any such development.
The project will take around 18 months to complete. Heatley opined that engagement with the Northland Regional Council, industry, iwi and others with an interest in aquaculture will ensure that any decisions made are based on good research and communication.
