Example of what the Blue Endeavour open ocean salmon farm in Cook Strait could look like. Photo: Seafood New Zealand

Seven Aquaculture Projects Fast-tracked for Approval in New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND
Tuesday, October 08, 2024, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Aquaculture New Zealand has welcomed the fast-tracking of seven major projects, which are expected to boost regional employment and increase export capacity, reports Radio New Zealand (RNZ).

These projects are part of the government's initial selection under the Fast-track Approvals Bill, designed to streamline development processes. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop indicated that while the bill has not yet passed and some steps remain, several of these projects could be greenlit by next year.

Sanford, a major player in New Zealand's fishing industry, has three key projects on the list: a land-based Greenshell mussel hatchery in Canterbury, a land-based recirculating water salmon hatchery on a 24-hectare former abattoir site in Southland, and two 20-hectare open-ocean salmon farms.

Ngāi Tahu Seafood's Hananui Aquaculture Project is also included, aiming to establish a 2,500-hectare marine farm for finfish off Stewart Island’s north-eastern coast. Other projects include Te Aupouri Fisheries Management's proposal to develop nine marine farms in Northland, Impact Marine’s land-based salmon farm and processing facility in Southland, and Clifford Bay Marine Farms' renewal of a 424-hectare mussel farm in the Marlborough Sounds.

Gary Hooper, Chief Executive of Aquaculture New Zealand, described the inclusion of these projects as a transformative moment for the industry. “Aquaculture has enormous potential in New Zealand, and these projects could be game-changers for regional economies,” he said.

Hooper also noted that the long and costly consenting processes under the Resource Management Act (RMA) have previously hindered investment, adding, “The RMA would pit the economy against the environment. New Zealand can be smarter, achieving both world-class environmental protection and economic growth.”

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