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Regional aquaculture projects

The Ministry for the Environment, together with the Ministry of Fisheries, the Department of Conservation, other central government agencies, and local government, are working together to progress six new non-legislative projects aimed at progressing aquaculture planning and enabling greater use and flexibility of aquaculture space. Funding of $2.6M over four years (2008/09 to 2011/12) has been provided.

The six projects sit alongside existing cross-Government work on Aquaculture implementation.

The projects are as follows:

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.

For more information on the projects, please contact: