Aquaculture reforms

Re-Starting Aquaculture - Report and Reforms

by the Ministry of Fisheries

2009

Overview

The government and some industry representatives are concerned that aquaculture development has been slowed by inefficient, complex process and the lack of any new allocation of marine space for farming since 2004.

A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was formed in early August 2009 to provide the government with recommendations that aim to streamline the application and management processes so that greater returns are generated. Their report, recommendations and action points were released in mid-October and entitled, Re-Starting Aquaculture, Report of the Technical Advisory Group.

The Ministry of Fisheries released the TAG report in early November. Submissions in response were due by 16 December 2009.

Analysis of report

option4’s initial analysis of the TAG report revealed some positive and negative aspects to the Technical Advisory Group’s recommendations. This analysis was distributed amongst non-commercial environmental and fishing interest groups to assist in their understanding of the 67-page TAG report.

There is a strong focus on the economic benefits of the proposed aquaculture reforms and less consideration of the social and cultural values associated with having uncluttered coastal regions, freedom of access and navigation.

After further discussion option4 and a number of non-commercial environmental and fishing interest groups developed submissions and delivered those to the Ministry of Fisheries by the submission deadline.

Major issues
While this proposal relates to Bladder Kelp in Areas 3 and 4, MFish advised they would consider the introduction of further seaweeds into the QMS, depending on the feedback received.

option4 and the Hokianga Accord jointly submitted, as did a number of other non-commercial environmental and fishing interest organisations because the issue is of national interest:

• Our coastline is public property. Privatisation of our coastline is unacceptable.
• There are no shortcuts to achieving good outcomes for the environment and community
• There must be meaningful consultation with non-commercial interests before aquaculture policy and legislation are drafted
• Aquaculture needs to be limited to agreed Aquaculture Management Areas
• Addressing the needs of existing marine users ought to be a priority
• option4 reject caged, finfish farming due to environmental concerns
• a more reasoned and strategic view of sustainable aquaculture development is required.

Outcome
On 17 December MFish advised that, “Following analysis of submissions, Cabinet will make decisions on policy for aquaculture reform in early 2010. It is anticipated that a Bill will be introduced shortly after and referred to a select committee which will call for submissions”.

Reforms already underway
Interestingly, on 17 December the Minister of Fisheries, Phil Heatley, was celebrating the Ministry of Fisheries’ announcement that 10 new marine farms have been approved. This equates to 3,143 hectares of new marine farming space.

“A 2,695 hectare offshore farm, in Pegasus Bay in Canterbury makes up the bulk of the new space and, once established, will be New Zealand's second largest marine farm. A 424 hectare marine farm in Clifford Bay on Marlborough's east coast and 8 small marine farms in the Marlborough Sounds have also been approved.”

Submission deadline

The deadline for submissions closed on 16 December 2009.

Your Input

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Documents

To achieve a good level of understanding of complex fisheries management scenarios we believe it is important to read the information in chronological order so you can follow the process.

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