Aquaculture

Aquaculture is the raising of plants or animals in water. It can occur in coastal waters, rivers, lakes and in constructed tanks on land.

The government supports well-planned and sustainable aquaculture growth in New Zealand and is committed to enabling industry to achieve its goal of $1 billion in annual sales by 2025. An essential part of this commitment is to ensure aquaculture growth takes place within acceptable environmental limits and respects other uses and values of our waterways and marine environment.

For aquaculture, MPI has several responsibilities:

• It works to support the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry as outlined in the Government’s Aquaculture Strategy and Five-year Action Plan.
• It is the lead Crown agency responsible for implementing the Maori Aquaculture Settlement.
• It provides decisions on whether coastal permits would have an undue adverse effect on recreational, customary and commercial fishing.
• It is the lead on biosecurity, including working to detect and keep unwanted pests and organisms out of New Zealand’s coastal environment.
• It manages land-based aquaculture and movements of aquatic life on and off land-based fish farms.
• It is the lead on providing information and support on food safety issues.

Additionally, the MPI – Aquaculture Unit is the Government’s principal advisor on aquaculture issues and serves as an important resource for local authorities, iwi, environmental interests, the aquaculture industry, and other stakeholders. Email the Aquaculture Unit at aquaculture@mpi.govt.nz.

Latest information

• The Government is supporting a $26 million initiative that seeks to boost aquaculture by domesticating the New Zealand Greenshell™ Mussel. SPATnz is a venture led by Sanford which has received a commitment of up to $13 million from the Government’s Primary Growth Partnership Fund for a seven-year project.
• The Fisheries (Aquaculture Compensation Methodology) Regulations 2012 comes into effect on 7 December 2012. The regulations specify the methodologies an arbitrator must use when determining whether compensation should be paid to quota owners, and if so, how much should be paid.
• Notice specifying fish species which can be farmed pursuant to the Freshwater Fish Farming Regulations 1983 was updated and gazetted on 22 November 2012.
• Current coastal permit applications and recent aquaculture decisions.
• Aquaculture Settlement Area Notice – Lucas Bay (South), Akaroa Harbour, Canterbury gazette notice on 18 October 2012.