Aquaculture – Growth and Development

The government has identified aquaculture as a priority sector for development. Aquaculture is a sustainable industry that can assist economic development in our regions and small coastal towns. It is also an important industry for Māori.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts that world demand for seafood will increase by at least 40 million tonnes by 2030, with aquaculture production increasingly used to meet this demand. New Zealand’s contribution to global aquaculture is only about 0.02% of sales by weight, thus providing New Zealand with a huge opportunity to tap into this anticipated increase in worldwide demand.

Economic transformation

MFish leads an across government work programme to help the aquaculture industry achieve its goal to grow to a $1 billion business by 2025. Agencies involved include Ministry for the Environment (MFE), Department of Conservation (DOC), Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK), New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST).

Key successes in the 2007/08 year

• $600,000 allocated to regional councils from the contestable aquaculture planning fund for regional aquaculture development initiatives.
  
• Funding of $150,000 to help Te Tai Tokerau Iwi Consortium develop a collective strategic plan for aquaculture in Northland.
  
• Funding of $190,000 for a Māori Aquaculture Manager position within Aquaculture New Zealand, to ensure Māori engage on issues important to the future of the industry. This position is being funded by government for three years at a total cost of $570,000.
  
• NZTE has allocated $500,000 to assist the aquaculture industry carry out a range of market development activities. This is part of a $6.5 million programme of assistance over the next four years.
  
• Government has worked with the aquaculture industry to create a research strategy to drive growth in the sector. Aquaculture New Zealand has also signed up to be a corner stone investor in the new Fast Forward Fund.
  
• Information for the public and schools on the benefits of sustainable aquaculture development has increased through the government’s aquaculture website.

Space to grow

Despite the delays in establishing new Aquaculture Management Areas (AMAs), the space available to the aquaculture industry continues to grow through the processing of applications under the old law, and the interim AMAs in Tasman and Waikato.