More Species Approved For Land-based Fish Farming

18 March 2004

The Ministry of Fisheries increased the number of species of aquatic life that fish farmers can farm on land-based fish farms, and a total of 17 new species will be added to the current gazette notice on 18 March 2004.

There had been a lot of interest in farming some aquatic species that were not on the current notice. The decision to add more species to the notice is seen as an interim measure until aquaculture legislation is updated and there is no need to specify species in a notice.

"I am pleased that land-based fish farmers will have a greater selection of species to farm," said Ministry of Fisheries Senior Fisheries Management Advisor, Scott Williamson. "Some of these species have considerable potential to develop into commercially viable enterprises, and one notable improvement has been the ability to farm some seaweeds."

Mr Williamson said publishing a new gazette notice did not give land-based fish farmers any right to take aquatic life to stock a fish farm. Fish farmers can acquire brood stock through normal commercial fishing channels, such as licensed fish receivers or from another land-based fish farm.

Farming the new species is not an automatic right. Prospective and existing land-based fish farmers must receive approval from the Ministry of Fisheries before farming the species.

List of species to be added to the gazette notice of species that may be farmed under the Freshwater Fish Farming Regulations 1983

For further information please contact:
Scott Williamson
Senior Fisheries Management Advisor, Ministry of Fisheries, Nelson
Telephone: 03 548 1069
Mobile: 027 268 7058

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